Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update

2008-2009 Influenza Season Week 27 ending July 11, 2009

All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.

On June 11, the World Health Organization raised the pandemic alert level from Phase 5 to Phase 6 indicating that an influenza pandemic is underway.

Synopsis:

During week 27 (July 5-11, 2009), influenza activity decreased in the United States, however, there were still higher levels of influenza-like illness than is normal for this time of year.

• One thousand two hundred seventy-eight (23.8%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
• Over 99% of all subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to CDC were novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was below the epidemic threshold.
• One influenza-associated pediatric death was reported and was associated with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
• The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was below national and region-specific baseline levels.
• Nine states reported geographically widespread influenza activity, 12 states and Puerto Rico reported regional influenza activity, 12 states and the District of Columbia reported local influenza activity, 16 states reported sporadic influenza activity, and one state did not report.

National and Regional Summary of Select Surveillance Components

HHS Surveillance Regions*	Data for current week			Data cumulative for the season
	Out-patient ILI†	% positive for flu‡	Number of jurisdictions reporting regional or widespread activity§	A (H1)	A (H3)	Novel A (H1N1)	A (unable to subtype)¥	A(Sub-typing not performed)	B	Pediatric Deaths
Nation	Normal	23.8 %	22 of 52	7,897	2,380	22,076	668	16,686	10,653	90
Region I	Normal	21.8 %	4 of 6	540	157	1,800	13	1,669	815	4
Region II	Normal	25.9 %	3 of 3	277	140	956	20	2,252	711	15
Region III	Normal	42.9 %	4 of 6	1,249	219	3,567	13	921	1,361	9
Region IV	Normal	28.7 %	3 of 8	831	131	1,010	49	2,511	1,221	6
Region V	Normal	34.4 %	0 of 6	1,650	201	8,067	182	840	1,420	15
Region VI	Normal	23.3 %	1 of 5	800	278	2,318	5	4,328	2,629	15
Region VII	Normal	26.0 %	1 of 4	521	77	570	81	491	535	0
Region VIII	Normal	17.2 %	0 of 6	530	217	1,132	61	1,594	499	7
Region IX	Normal	15.3 %	4 of 4	1,111	647	908	35	1,589	771	17
Region X	Normal	24.5 %	2 of 4	388	313	1,667	209	491	691	2

* HHS regions (Region I: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT; Region II: NJ, NY, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands; Region III: DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV; Region IV: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN; Region V: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI; Region VI: AR, LA, NM, OK, TX; Region VII: IA, KS, MO, NE; Region VIII: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY; Region IX: AZ, CA, Guam, HI, NV; and Region X: AK, ID, OR, WA)
† Elevated means the % of visits for ILI is at or above the national or region-specific baseline
‡ National data are for current week; regional data are for the most recent three weeks
§ Includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico
¥ The majority of influenza A viruses that cannot be sub-typed as seasonal influenza viruses are novel A (H1N1) influenza viruses upon further testing

U.S. Virologic Surveillance:

WHO and NREVSS collaborating laboratories located in all 50 states and Washington D.C. report to CDC the number of respiratory specimens tested for influenza.

During the 2008-09 season, influenza A (H1), A (H3), and B viruses have co-circulated in the United States. On April 15 and 17, 2009, CDC confirmed the first two cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in the United States. As of July 17, 2009, 40,617 confirmed and probable infections with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus and 211 deaths (7 deaths in individuals 0-4 years, 43 deaths in individuals 5-24 years, 101 deaths in adults 25-49 years, 66 deaths in adults 50-64 years, 23 deaths in adults age 65 and older and 22 deaths with unknown age) have been identified by CDC and state and local public health departments. Reporting of novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses by U.S. WHO collaborating laboratories began during week 17 (week ending May 2, 2009). The results of tests performed during the current week are summarized in the table below.

	Week 27
No. of specimens tested	5,371
No. of positive specimens (%)	1,278 (23.8%)
Positive specimens by type/subtype
Influenza A	1,274 (99.7%)
A (novel H1N1)	808 (63.4%)
	457 (35.9%)
A (unable to subtype)	6 (0.5%)
A (H3)	3 (0.2%)
A (H1)	0 (0.0%)
Influenza B	4 (0.3%)

During week 27, seasonal influenza A (H1), A (H3), and B viruses co-circulated at low levels with novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses. Over 99% of all subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to CDC this week were novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses.

The increase in the percentage of specimens testing positive for influenza by WHO and NREVSS collaborating laboratories may be due in part to changes in testing practices by health care providers, triaging of specimens by public health laboratories, an increase in the number of specimens collected from outbreaks, and other factors.

View WHO-NREVSS Regional Bar Charts| View Chart Data | View Full Screen

Antigenic Characterization:

CDC has antigenically characterized 1,817 seasonal human influenza viruses [1,049 influenza A (H1), 196 influenza A (H3) and 572 influenza B viruses] collected by U.S. laboratories since October 1, 2008, and 233 novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses.

All 1,049 influenza seasonal A (H1) viruses are related to the influenza A (H1N1) component of the 2008-09 influenza vaccine (A/Brisbane/59/2007). One hundred eighty-eight (96%) of 196 influenza A (H3N2) viruses tested are related to the A (H3N2) vaccine component (A/Brisbane/10/2007) and eight viruses (4%) tested showed reduced titers with antisera produced against A/Brisbane/10/2007.

All 233 novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses are related to the A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) reference virus selected by WHO as a potential candidate for novel influenza A (H1N1) vaccine.

Influenza B viruses currently circulating can be divided into two distinct lineages represented by the B/Yamagata/16/88 and B/Victoria/02/87 viruses. Sixty-eight (12%) of 573 influenza B viruses tested belong to the B/Yamagata lineage and are related to the vaccine strain (B/Florida/04/2006). The remaining 504 (88%) viruses belong to the B/Victoria lineage and are not related to the vaccine strain.

Data on antigenic characterization should be interpreted with caution given that antigenic characterization data is based on hemagglutination inhibition (HI) testing using a panel of reference ferret antisera and results may not correlate with clinical protection against circulating viruses provided by influenza vaccination.

Annual influenza vaccination is expected to provide the best protection against those virus strains that are related to the vaccine strains, but limited to no protection may be expected when the vaccine and circulating virus strains are so different as to be from different lineages, as is seen with the two lineages of influenza B viruses. Antigenic characterization of novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses indicates that these viruses are antigenically and genetically unrelated to seasonal influenza A (H1N1) viruses, suggesting that little to no protection would be expected from vaccination with seasonal influenza vaccine.

Antiviral Resistance:

Since October 1, 2008, 1,071 seasonal influenza A (H1N1), 201 influenza A (H3N2), and 606 influenza B viruses have been tested for resistance to the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir). Also, 1,078 seasonal influenza A (H1N1) and 212 influenza A (H3N2) viruses have been tested for resistance to the adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine). Two hundred sixty-seven novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses have been tested for resistance to the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir). Three hundred five novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses have been tested for resistance to the adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine). The results of antiviral resistance testing performed on these viruses are summarized in the table below.

	Isolates tested (n)	Resistant Viruses, Number (%)		Isolates tested (n)	Resistant Viruses, Number (%)
		Oseltamivir	Zanamivir		Adamantanes
Seasonal Influenza A (H1N1)	1,071	1,066 (99.5%)	0 (0)	1,078	6 (0.6%)
Influenza A (H3N2)	201	0 (0)	0 (0)	212	212 (100%)
Influenza B	606	0 (0)	0 (0)	N/A*	N/A*
Novel Influenza A (H1N1)	267	0 (0)	0 (0)	305	305 (100%)

        ^{*The adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine) are not effective against influenza B viruses.}

The novel influenza A (H1N1) virus is susceptible to both neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral medications zanamivir and oseltamivir. It is resistant to the adamantane antiviral medications, amantadine and rimantadine. Antiviral treatment with either oseltamivir or zanamivir is recommended for all patients with confirmed, probable or suspected cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection who are hospitalized or who are at higher risk for seasonal influenza complications.

Three cases of oseltamivir resistant novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses have been detected worldwide, none of which were detected in the U.S. However, one of the three viruses was detected in a specimen collected from a child that became ill in California and subsequently traveled to Hong Kong where the respiratory specimen was collected, and the oseltamivir resistant novel H1N1 strain was detected. Enhanced antiviral resistance testing in California has not revealed any other oseltamivir resistant novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses. The other two cases of oseltamivir resistant novel H1N1 viruses were detected in Japan and Denmark (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/h1n1_antiviral_resistance_20090708/en/index.html). Additional information on antiviral recommendations for treatment and chemoprophylaxis of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection is available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm

Three seasonal influenza A (H1N1) viruses collected between February 8 and May 11, 2009 were found to be resistant to both oseltamivir and the adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine). All influenza A (H1N1) viruses tested retain their sensitivity to zanamivir. The three dually resistant viruses represent less than 0.5% of all seasonal influenza A (H1N1) viruses tested during the 2008-09 influenza season, and as a result, no changes to the influenza antiviral treatment or prophylaxis recommendations will be made at this time. CDC will continue to monitor trends in antiviral resistance over the summer and throughout the upcoming 2009-10 influenza season.

Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance

During week 27, 6.5% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was below the epidemic threshold of 6.6% for week 27.

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Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality

One influenza-associated pediatric death was reported to CDC during week 27 (Massachusetts). This death was associated with a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. The death reported this week occurred during week 27 (the week ending July 11, 2009). Since September 28, 2008, CDC has received 90 reports of influenza-associated pediatric deaths that occurred during the current influenza season, 23 of which were due to novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infections.

Of the 40 children who had specimens collected for bacterial culture from normally sterile sites, 15 (37.5%) were positive; Staphylococcus aureus was identified in nine (60.0%) of the 15 children. Four of the S. aureus isolates were sensitive to methicillin and five were methicillin resistant. Thirteen (86.7%) of the 15 children with bacterial coinfections were five years of age or older and 10 (66.7%) of the 15 children were 12 years of age or older. Nine of the 23 children with confirmed novel influenza A (H1N1) infection had a specimen collected from a normally sterile site; one of the nine children had a positive bacterial culture. An increase in the number of influenza-associated pediatric deaths with bacterial coinfections was first recognized during the 2006-07 influenza season. In January 2008, interim testing and reporting recommendations were released regarding influenza and bacterial coinfections in children and are available at (http://www2a.cdc.gov/HAN/ArchiveSys/ViewMsgV.asp?AlertNum=00268).

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Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations

Laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations are monitored in two population-based surveillance networks: the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) and the Emerging Infections Program (EIP).

During October 12, 2008 to June 27, 2009, the preliminary laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalization rate for children 0-4 years old in the NVSN was 4.42 per 10,000. Because of case identification methods utilized in this study, there is a delay from the date of hospitalization to the date of report.

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During April 15, 2009 to July 11, 2009, the following preliminary laboratory-confirmed overall influenza associated hospitalization rates were reported by the EIP (rates include type A, type B, and novel H1N1):

Rates for children aged 0-23 months, 2-4 years, and 5-17 years were 1.7, 0.7, and 0.6 per 10,000, respectively. Rates for adults aged 18-49 years, 50-64 years, and >= 65 years were 0.3, 0.3, and 0.3 per 10,000, respectively.

^{*This value represents an age group-specific average influenza rate from October 1 to April 30 from the 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08 influenza seasons.
**Note: The scales for the 0-23 month and the >= 65 years age groups differ from other age groups.}

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Outpatient Illness Surveillance:

Nationwide during week 27, 1.3% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) were due to influenza-like illness (ILI). This percentage is below the national baseline of 2.4%.

View ILINet Regional Charts | View Chart Data |View Full Screen

On a regional level, the percentage of outpatient visits for ILI ranged from 0.3% to 2.2%. All 10 regions reported percentages of visits for ILI below their respective region-specific baselines. ILI decreased during week 27 in six of 10 regions compared to week 26.

Geographic Spread of Influenza as Assessed by State and Territorial Epidemiologists:

The influenza activity reported by state and territorial epidemiologists indicates geographic spread of both seasonal influenza and novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses and does not measure the severity of influenza activity.

During week 27, the following influenza activity was reported:

• Widespread influenza activity was reported by nine states (California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and New York).
• Regional influenza activity was reported by Puerto Rico and 12 states (Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington).
• Local influenza activity was reported by the District of Columbia and 12 states (Alaska, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin).
• Sporadic activity was reported by 16 states (Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming).
• One state did not report (Montana).

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A description of surveillance methods is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm

• Page last updated July 17, 2009.