Swine Flu Updates

During week 51 (December 20-26, 2009), influenza activity decreased slightly in the U.S. 154 (3.9%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.Four states reported geographically widespread influenza activity, 13 states reported regional influenza activity, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 19 states reported local influenza activity, Guam and 13 states reported sporadic influenza activity, and one state reported no influenza activity, the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report. Source: cdc.gov

Overall flu activity decreased slightly in the United States during the week of December 20-26, 2009, as reported in FluView. The number of states reporting widespread flu activity decreased from 7 to 4. to doctors for influenza-like illness increased, although the proportion of tests for influenza that were positive continued to decline and the overall hospitalization rates for this season were unchanged from the previous week. Flu-associated deaths among all ages increased from the previous week, but fewer deaths in children were reported compared to the prior week (4 versus 9). Flu is unpredictable and activity can rise and fall throughout the season, but flu is likely to continue for months, caused by either 2009 H1N1 viruses or regular seasonal flu viruses. Source: cdc.gov