All but four U.S. states and Washington D.C. reported widespread flu activity for the final week of 2017, accounting for a 10-state increase from the previous week, according to CDC data.
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Those four states—Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, and New Jersey—have reported regional activity, while Washington, D.C. reported local activity. U.S. territories Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report flu activity to the CDC for the week of Dec. 24.
Below is a map showing reported flu activity in the United States for the week beginning on Dec. 24:
According to CDC, the percentage of outpatient visits for flu-like illnesses was 5.8% the week of Dec. 24, marking an increase from 5% the week before. Overall, CDC reported 3,927 lab-confirmed flu-related hospitalizations between Oct. 1 and Dec. 30.
CDC also reported an additional pediatric death from the flu, raising the total number of pediatric deaths to 13 so far this flu season. Last season, the agency reported 110 flu-related pediatric deaths.
The latest data also show that the percentage of respiratory specimens that tested positive for influenza increased for the week starting on Dec. 24. Of the specimens, influenza A was the most commonly-identified virus type, with 27,241 positive tests, while influenza B had 5,585 positive tests (Zimmerman, Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection, 1/5).
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