Swine Flu Spikes Again in US

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http://www.vancouverite.com/2010/01/02/swine-flu-spikes-again-in-u-s/

ATLANTA - There has been an upsurge in visits to doctors for Swine Flu and deaths associated with flu and pneumonia are again higher than the national epidemic threshold, the CDC said in a report released on Saturday.

"The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report increased over the previous week and is now back above the epidemic threshold after dipping below it last week for the first time in 11 weeks," it said. But there is no indication that the expected third wave of Swine Flu has struck. One explanation for the increase in visits to doctors is that people sometimes put off visits until after Christmas as is often seen in other flu seasons.But the CDC did not offer an explanation about why the number of deaths from flu and pneumonia moved higher again after dipping the previous week for the first time. Other experts had suggested Christmas gatherings may cause the virus to spread more.

Swine Flu continued to kill more children. The CDC has said the pandemic virus killed five times more kids than a regular flu season.

Between August 30 and December 26, there had been 37,090 hospitalizations and 1,697 deaths caused by influenza and pneumonia. The CDC says while there are lab confirmed cases, the actual figures are far higher.

(hat tip fllutrackers/sharon sanders)

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Humm...

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http://www.cdc.gov/H1n1flu/update.htm

The situation changes from week to week. No way to predict what will happen. No seasonal flu to speak of anywhere out there yet.

Are we in between waves? History says yes, but who knows?

Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView. During the week of January 3-9, 2010, all key indicators declined compared to the previous week. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:

Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) nationally decreased this week over last week. Visits to doctors for ILI also are examined by region. ILI decreased in all 10 regions of the country, but one region (region 9) continues to report elevated activity.

Overall hospitalization rates are declining.

The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report decreased over the previous week and remains below what is expected for this time of year. In addition, another seven flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week: six of these deaths were associated with laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1 and one death was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was not determined. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 300 laboratory-confirmed pediatric deaths: 255 due to 2009 H1N1, 43 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but the flu virus subtype was not determined, and two pediatric deaths that were associated with seasonal influenza viruses. (Laboratory-confirmed deaths are thought to represent an undercount of the actual number. CDC has provided estimates about the number of 2009 H1N1 cases and related hospitalizations and deaths.

No states reported widespread influenza activity; a decline of one state from last week. Nine states continue to report regional influenza activity. They are: Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Virginia.

Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.

*All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.

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