Influenza Update Week Ending 5-19-2018
Influenza (FLU) Update for Week #20 Week Ending 5-19-18
FLU and ILI news continued to improve and, although there were still Flu and ILI cases, as well as hospitalizations and deaths from influenza, based on the numbers, it is the waning weeks of the 2017-18 Flu Season.
So, unless something unexpected happens, this will be the last FirstWatch Flu Summary for Flu Season 2017-18. The CDC will continue to publish their Weekly Flu Reports and Summaries; they can be accessed through this link: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly. A quick glance at the graphs provides a pictorial presentation of the severity of this flu season.
FirstWatch RIN (Reginal Influenza Network) Alerts occurred very rarely, which correlated with CDC reports of continued decreased activity.
For the most recently reported week ending May 19, 2018, the CDC reported:
–ILI visits to clinics and other non-hospital facilities was again at 1.2%, below the baseline of 2.2%. For the 2nd consecutive time since the flu season became active, all 10 Regions reported ILI as less than Region-specific baselines and were listed as “NORMAL”.
–Flu cases (documented by positive flu tests) decreased again with widespread flu reported in only one (1) state. Clinical lab testing for influenza was positive for flu in 2.2% of the total tests (compared with 3.9% last week).
The CDC provides an interactive U.S. map that will link to each state’s public health authorities, ILI and flu information and processes, as well as other diseases and public health topics. Find it at this site: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm
—For Influenza-Like Illness (ILI)
Minimal Activity was again reported by New York City, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico & all 50 states.
—For Flu (positive flu tests)
Widespread Activity (1 state): Massachusetts
Regional Activity (Guam, Puerto Rico & 1 state): Utah
Local Activity (7 states): Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin
Sporadic Activity (Washington D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands & 37 states): Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming
No Activity (4 states): Alabama, Mississippi, New Hampshire and Rhode Island
—Other Data:
Hospitalizations from Flu since Oct. 1, 2017 have had a cumulative rate of 106.6 per 100,000; this remains the same for the second consecutive week. Specifically, those 65 years and older with a slight increase to 460.8 per 100,000 (460.3/100,000 last week); ages 50-64 slightly less at 115.7 per 100,000 (115.8/100,000); and ages 0-4 slightly less at 74.5 per 100,000 (74.7/100,000). The percentage of pregnant women from the females of childbearing age group (15-44) who were hospitalized were at/near 30% (30.7%), a slight decrease.
Death rates for Pneumonia & Influenza in adults decreased to 5.8% which, for the 8th week in-a-row, fell below the epidemic threshold of 6.8% for Week #18, ending 5/5/18.
There was 1 pediatric death from Flu reported in Week #20 but which actually occurred during week #16 (4/21/18). This is a total of 169 for this flu season, significantly higher than a typical Flu Season.
—Flu in Canada and Europe for Week #20:
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the 2017-18 Influenza Season for Canada has ended. The majority of regions reported no or only sporadic activity. This is the last weekly report for Canada for this season; FluWatch will publish monthly reports over the summer although monitoring for Flu will continue.
For more info see: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/flu-influenza.html
The European Center for Disease Prevention & Control (ECDC) reported that flu activity was at levels typically seen between Flu seasons in most countries. Lab tests from PCPs were positive for flu 3% of the time (10% last week).
For more info see: https://www.flunewseurope.org/
Download the Full Update, and Read EMS Specific Recommendations
See this link for more details, including charts, graphs and maps. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
