Ten States Report Widespread Flu Activity
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Fuse/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that widespread flu activity has been found in 10 states, compared to just four states with high activity levels last week.
Of the 10 regions in the country, eight have reported “elevated influenza-like illness activity.” That number is also on the rise, up from five of 10 last week.
The most commonly confirmed strain this flu season is the H1N1 strain, the same that caused a stir in 2009. Medical experts point out that the reason that the H1N1 strain, called “swine flu,” was so dangerous in 2009 was the lack of immunity and that the strain was not covered by the annual flu vaccine. This flu season, however, the H1N1 strain is among those included in both the trivalent and quadrivalent vaccinations.
Children under the age of five have experienced the most flu-related hospitalizations so far this season. The second most-impacted group is adults 65 years old or older.
As of last week, the CDC had reported four pediatric deaths related to influenza. There were no new deaths reported this past week.
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