For the first time this flu season, the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was higher than the national baseline level of 2.1%, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
According to data from the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network, for the week ending Dec. 19 (week 10 of the 2015-2016 season), 2.2% of outpatient visits nationwide involved ILI, the CDC said.
South Carolina remained the only state in the “high” range of activity. New Jersey went up to level 7 – the high end of the “moderate” range – to remain the second most affected state, and Texas jumped from level 2 last week to level 6 this week to move into “moderate” territory. Alabama and Georgia both moved up to “low” status for the first time with ILI activity at level 5, and Virginia stayed at level 4 – the only other state in the “low” range, according to the CDC.
A total of 17 states were at level 2 or higher during week 10, up from 15 states the week before. Arizona, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania were at level 3, and Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Utah were at level 2, data from the Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network revealed.
One influenza-related pediatric death was reported during week 10, bringing the total for the season to four.