Influenza-like illness (ILI) has reached its highest mark this flu season, according to the latest FluView report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For the week ending February 2, the proportion of people seeing their healthcare provider for ILI reached 4.3%. That's an increase over the previous week (3.8%). It is also above the national baseline of 2.2%, but substantially lower than the 7.5% peak recorded last season. The national percentage of patient visits to healthcare providers for ILI reported each week is calculated by combining state-specific data weighted by state population.
Unfortunately, the latest report brought the news of four new flu-related pediatric deaths, bringing the total to 28 flu-related deaths in children for the 2018-2019 flu season.
H1N1 viruses have been the most commonly identified flu viruses nationally, but H3N2 viruses have predominated in the southeastern region of the United States.
CDC stated it expects flu activity to remain elevated for a number of weeks and advised anyone 6 months or older who has not yet been vaccinated this season to get vaccinated as soon as possible.