Flu activity gets early jump, continues to rise

The 2012-2013 flu season, which started a month earlier than usual continues to show increased activity across the nation.

In week 52 (Dec. 23-29, 2012) 31.6% of the 9,363 respiratory specimens tested in national laboratories were positive for influenza. Among outpatient visits reported to the US Outpatient Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Network, 5.6% were positive for influenza-like illness, compared with the expected national baseline of 2.2%.

The number of states reporting high flu activity rose to 29, with New York City also reporting high levels. Nine states reported moderate flu activity, while four states were experiencing low activity.

“It’s too early to tell how severe our season might be,” CDC Director said in a statement. “However, we know that thousands die and hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized with flu each year.”

The proportion of deaths (7.0%) attributed to pneumonia and influenza in week 52 was still just below the epidemic threshold (7.1%) for week 52. Two pediatric deaths related to influenza were reported.

The dominant strain this year is influenza A(H3N2) which has been associated with more severe flu seasons. This year’s flu vaccine is a 90% march for the specimens that have been sent to the CDC, according to an agency update on Dec. 21.

“Vaccination is the single most important step we can take to protect ourselves and our families against infection. It’s not too late to get vaccinated before the flu season peaks.”

Roughly 123 million doses of influenza vaccine have been distributed so far, and nearly 112 million Americans have been vaccinated so far this flu season, the CDC reported.

Also on Dec. 21, the Food and Drug Administration expanded approval of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) to children as young as two weeks old who have shown flu symptoms for two days or less.

The agency stressed oseltamivir is not approved to prevent flu in this population, and that the drug’s safety and efficacy have not been established in those younger than two weeks old.