Flu Cases Widespread in 25 States
CDC's latest FluView summary said most of the identified cases have been
Influenza is widespread in 25 states, with identified flu viruses mainly being influenza A (H3N2) viruses and 2009 H1N1, according to the latest FluView summary from CDC. It says these viruses remain similar to the viruses chosen for the 2010-2011 flu vaccine and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. The report covers the week ending Jan. 22.
The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza based on the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System increased slightly from last week and is at a level expected for this time of year, it states.
There were 17 states reporting widespread influenza the week before. Flu activity in the United States generally peaks in January or later in most years, according to CDC.
The 25 states reporting widespread activity were Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. Regional geographic influenza activity was reported by 16 states (Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin).