Flu Season: Is the Worst Behind Us? - East Idaho News

Flu Season: Is the Worst Behind Us?

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Getty 021412 Flu?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1360371783114Digital Vision/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Influenza activity remains elevated across the nation and is still above epidemic threshold. However, similar to last week, this one was marked by continued decreases in flu activity – and these decreases in activity were seen in nearly every area of the country.

The number of states experiencing widespread geographic influenza activity dropped to 38, down from 42 last week.

Of all flu-related hospitalizations, more than half are among patients 65 years of age and older.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 14 more pediatric deaths associated with influenza this week. Most of these deaths were from earlier weeks, but were just now reported. The total for the season so far is now 59.

The percentage of overall deaths attributable to pneumonia and influenza fell to 9 percent, down from 9.4 percent last week.

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