https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenz...hes-high-severity-status-deaths-outpace-covid
US flu reaches high severity status as deaths outpace COVID
Lisa Schnirring
52 minutes ago.
Influenza, General
COVID-19
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Over the past 2 weeks, flu deaths have outpaced fatalities from COVID and now make up 2.6% of all deaths for the most recent week, compared to 1.5% for COVID.
Outpatient visits for flulike illness have been above baseline for 11 weeks in a row, with very high or high activity reported in 46 states. Levels are highest in people ages 24 years old and younger.
11 more pediatric flu deaths
The CDC received reports of 11 more pediatric flu deaths, raising the season's total to 68. Ten were linked to influenza A, and, of 6 subtyped samples, 3 were 2009 H1N1 and 3 were the H3N2 strain.
Test positivity at clinical labs and rate of lab-confirmed flu hospitalizations reported through the CDC’s FluSurvNet system are higher than peak weeks going back to the 2015-16 and 2010-11 flu seasons, respectively. Seniors are the most affected group, followed by adults ages 50 to 64 years old.
Test positivity highest in the upper Midwest
Test positivity at clinical labs was 31.6% last week, similar to the previous week, with the highest level seen in the CDC's region 5, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
At public health labs, nearly 97% of samples that tested positive were influenza A, and, of subtyped samples, 55.4% were H1N1 and 44.6% were H3N2.
The CDC said it recommends everyone ages 6 months and older be vaccinated against seasonal flu and noted that antiviral flu drugs are available for treatment and should be started as early as possible, especially for those at higher risk for flu complications.
COVID, RSV markers show declines
Though wastewater levels for COVID-19 remain high, emergency department (ED) visits are low and declining and test positivity remains stable, the CDC said in its weekly respiratory virus snapshot. Levels are higher in the Midwest than for other US regions.
Meanwhile, ED visits for RSV are at the moderate level, with a downward trend.
US flu reaches high severity status as deaths outpace COVID
Lisa Schnirring
52 minutes ago.
Influenza, General
COVID-19
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
With flu activity last week higher than or similar to the highest point of the season and hospitalizations and deaths on the rise, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that it now classified the season as high severity for all age-groups for the first time since the 2017-18 season.Over the past 2 weeks, flu deaths have outpaced fatalities from COVID and now make up 2.6% of all deaths for the most recent week, compared to 1.5% for COVID.
Outpatient visits for flulike illness have been above baseline for 11 weeks in a row, with very high or high activity reported in 46 states. Levels are highest in people ages 24 years old and younger.
11 more pediatric flu deaths
The CDC received reports of 11 more pediatric flu deaths, raising the season's total to 68. Ten were linked to influenza A, and, of 6 subtyped samples, 3 were 2009 H1N1 and 3 were the H3N2 strain.
Test positivity at clinical labs and rate of lab-confirmed flu hospitalizations reported through the CDC’s FluSurvNet system are higher than peak weeks going back to the 2015-16 and 2010-11 flu seasons, respectively. Seniors are the most affected group, followed by adults ages 50 to 64 years old.
Test positivity highest in the upper Midwest
Test positivity at clinical labs was 31.6% last week, similar to the previous week, with the highest level seen in the CDC's region 5, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
At public health labs, nearly 97% of samples that tested positive were influenza A, and, of subtyped samples, 55.4% were H1N1 and 44.6% were H3N2.
The CDC said it recommends everyone ages 6 months and older be vaccinated against seasonal flu and noted that antiviral flu drugs are available for treatment and should be started as early as possible, especially for those at higher risk for flu complications.
COVID, RSV markers show declines
Though wastewater levels for COVID-19 remain high, emergency department (ED) visits are low and declining and test positivity remains stable, the CDC said in its weekly respiratory virus snapshot. Levels are higher in the Midwest than for other US regions.
Meanwhile, ED visits for RSV are at the moderate level, with a downward trend.