Nationwide Flu Activity Declines - East Idaho News
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Nationwide Flu Activity Declines

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GETTY 012414 Flu?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1390615827147iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The flu season may have peaked, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting a decrease in the nation’s influenza-like activity.

Following a downward trend, the percentage of patients who visited their health care providers for flu-like symptoms dropped since last week, along with the number of states where the illness has been reported.

Thirteen states are now experiencing high influenza-like illness activity, down from 14. Though some numbers are dipping, states like California have seen a significant rise in related deaths.  State health officials confirmed 95 California influenza deaths this season with an additional 51 cases predicted to be confirmed next week, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Local epidemiologists also give a different number, saying 41 states are experiencing “widespread geographic influenza,” up from 40 last week.

The number of deaths linked to pneumonia and the flu remain above the CDC’s epidemic threshold.

The H1N1 strain, which led to a pandemic in 2009, is the predominant strain in the current season. Adults 65 and older have the highest rate of hospitalization so far, followed by children under 4 and under.

Eight more children have died, bringing the total number of flu-associated pediatric deaths to 28.

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