Two U.S. states experienced “moderate” activity of influenza-like illness for the week ending Nov. 28, 2015 – week 7 of the 2015-2016 flu season – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Dec. 4.
South Carolina had the highest (level 7) activity for the week, with Oklahoma joined by Puerto Rico at level 6. New Jersey was at the highest level (level 5) of “low” activity, while Arizona, Mississippi, and Virginia were a notch lower (level 4) but still in the “low” zone. All told, 20 states had flu activity of level 2 or higher, according to the CDC.
There were no influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported during the week, with two such deaths reported for the 2015-2016 season so far. For week 7 nationwide, 1.9% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network were the result of influenza-like illness – defined as a temperature of 100° F or greater and cough and/or sore throat – which is below the national baseline of 2.1%, the CDC said.
During week 7, 1.5% of the 11,288 specimens tested were positive for influenza, with 60% positive for influenza A and 40% positive for influenza B. For the season overall, 1.2% of the 102,675 specimens tested have been positive, with a 61/39 split for influenza A and B, the CDC noted.