Flu Continues to Spread Nationwide

ATLANTA — The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), headquartered in Atlanta, reported that the country is experiencing high levels of influenza-like-illness (ILI) in its FluView report, released on Jan. 4.

According to the report’s findings, the proportion of people seeing their health care provider for ILI in the U.S. has been elevated for four consecutive weeks, rising from 2.8 percent to 5.6 percent. Last season, which was considered relatively mild, ILI peaked at 2.2 percent. The 1998-1999 and 2003-2004 seasons were moderately severe, and ILI peaked at 7.6 percent, and during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, ILI peaked at 7.7 percent.

Currently 29 states and New York City are reporting high levels of ILI, with nine additional states reporting moderate levels. Only 10 states (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Wisconsin) are still reporting low or minimal levels of ILI. Washington, DC and two other states did not have enough information to calculate ILI activity levels.

One of the factors that, according to the CDC, may indicate increased ILI levels this year is the influenza A (H3N2) virus, which has accounted for about 76 percent of the cases reported. To date, 18 influenza-related pediatric deaths have been reported this season and the CDC reports that there are anywhere from 3,000 to 49,000 influenza-related deaths each year, as well as an average of 226,000 annual influenza-related hospitalizations.

Getting vaccinated is still the No. 1 recommended way to prevent getting the flu, although it is not 100 percent effective. “Anyone who has not already been vaccinated should do so now,” said Dr. Joe Bresee, chief of the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in CDC’s Influenza Division, in a statement. “And it’s important to remember that people who have severe influenza illness, or who are at high risk of serious influenza-related complications, should get treated with influenza antiviral medications if they get flu symptoms regardless of whether or not they got vaccinated. Also, you don’t need to wait for a positive laboratory test to start taking antivirals.”

As a result of the rise in flu cases, several hospitals in Virginia and other high-risk states are strongly recommending that patients and visitors wear a mask upon entering hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, urgent care centers and branch clinics. They are also asking that individuals with influenza-like symptoms — cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, chills and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea — not visit area hospitals.

Based on previous seasons, the flu isn’t going away anytime soon. The past 10 influenza seasons show ILI remaining at or above baseline for an average of 12 consecutive weeks.