Louisiana leads nation in flu activity ahead of holiday gatherings

[Pathfinder]

CDC: Louisiana leads nation in flu activity ahead of holiday gatherings
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Updated: 6:11 PM CST Dec 18, 2023

NEW ORLEANS —

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Louisiana is one of two states leading the nation in flu activity. South Carolina is the other.
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Additionally, information released by the Louisiana Department of Health indicates that the New Orleans Metro area has some of the highest flu activity in the state. In fact, LDH found that over the first week of December, 54 new patients were admitted to area hospitals with the flu.
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Anecdotally, pharmacists tell WDSU they have filled more pediatric prescriptions related to the flu.

"More kids," said Jack Wilkins, a pharmacist at NOLA Discount Pharmacy in Metairie. "They go to school and don't realize they have it. So it just makes the circuit, so to speak."
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https://www.wdsu.com/article/cdc-lo...activity-ahead-of-holiday-gatherings/46168395

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See also:

US FluView - Weekly Surveillance Flu report 2023/2024 season - for trend analysis
https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum...u-report-2023-2024-season-for-trend-analysis​

 

[Pathfinder]

Flu cases are spiking in Louisiana. Here’s what to do.

The percent of people seeking emergency care in our state because of flu-like illness is more than double the national average.

Author: Rachel Handley / WWL Louisiana
Published: 7:02 PM CST December 29, 2023
Updated: 7:02 PM CST December 29, 2023

LOUISIANA, USA — Louisiana is having one of the worst flu seasons of any state.

Friday afternoon, the Louisiana Health Department released its latest weekly flu report. It shows about 14% of people who sought emergency medical care in Louisiana during the week ending on December 23rd did so because of a flu-like illness.

The rate was around 6% during the same week in 2022. The rate is also around 6% for the U.S. overall. Most of the states with the highest per-capita number of cases are in the South.
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One child has already died of the flu in Louisiana this season. The LDH did not release any information about them, but the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate reports that they were a first-grader from Baton Rouge. They are one of 20 children that have died in the U.S. from the flu this season.
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https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/...o-do/289-888d89a3-c0de-4945-9383-a76e2ecb1766

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Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses
Surveillance Report
2023-2024 Season
Week 51 ending December 23, 2023​
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Influenza-like Illness (ILI) Activity:
% of ED visits Trend Intensity
Louisiana 14% Increasing above regional baseline
U.S. 6.1% Increasing above national baseline
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Virologic Surveillance:
% influenza positive tests Trend
Louisiana 26% Increasing
U.S. 16.1% Increasing
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Summary of Clinical Testing:
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INFLUENZA VIRUSES, LOUISIANA

B/Vic
39%

A/H1N1
59%

A/H3
2%
...
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https://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/SurveillanceReports/InfluenzaSurveillance/23_24/2351.pdf

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