Missouriwatcher
Editor, Senior Moderator
To date (week 6) officially reported: 64 influenza-associated pediatric deaths
This season ~45% of the influenza-associated deaths have been from influenza B. Approximately 20.6% of all influenza this season has been influenza B. Of the circulating B, ~29% has been from the B/Victoria lineage (not a component of the vaccine).
~55% of the influenza-associated deaths have been from influenza A (25% A/H3N2 and 30% designated A). Only a small percentage of the influenza A viruses have been A/2009H1N1.
Unless many more pediatric deaths are forthcoming from influenza A, it appears influenza B has been quite virulent, considering the percentage in circulation, compared to influenza A.
In week 6, influenza B is now ~34% of the influenza in circulation.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2012-2013/data/whoAllregt06.htm
Additionally (CDC MMWR):
As of February 9, 2013, a total of 64 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric deaths occurring during the 2012–13 season had been reported to CDC...The mean and median ages of children reported to have died were 7.9 and 7.4 years, respectively; three children were aged <6 months, 11 were aged 6–23 months, eight were aged 2–4 years, 24 were aged 5–11 years, and 18 were aged 12–17 years. Of the 64 deaths, 16 were associated with influenza A (H3N2) virus infection, 19 deaths were associated with an influenza A virus infection that was not subtyped, and 29 deaths were associated with influenza B infection. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a3.htm?s_cid=mm6207a3_w
This season ~45% of the influenza-associated deaths have been from influenza B. Approximately 20.6% of all influenza this season has been influenza B. Of the circulating B, ~29% has been from the B/Victoria lineage (not a component of the vaccine).
~55% of the influenza-associated deaths have been from influenza A (25% A/H3N2 and 30% designated A). Only a small percentage of the influenza A viruses have been A/2009H1N1.
Unless many more pediatric deaths are forthcoming from influenza A, it appears influenza B has been quite virulent, considering the percentage in circulation, compared to influenza A.
In week 6, influenza B is now ~34% of the influenza in circulation.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2012-2013/data/whoAllregt06.htm
Additionally (CDC MMWR):
As of February 9, 2013, a total of 64 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric deaths occurring during the 2012–13 season had been reported to CDC...The mean and median ages of children reported to have died were 7.9 and 7.4 years, respectively; three children were aged <6 months, 11 were aged 6–23 months, eight were aged 2–4 years, 24 were aged 5–11 years, and 18 were aged 12–17 years. Of the 64 deaths, 16 were associated with influenza A (H3N2) virus infection, 19 deaths were associated with an influenza A virus infection that was not subtyped, and 29 deaths were associated with influenza B infection. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a3.htm?s_cid=mm6207a3_w