2010-2011 Influenza Season Week 7 ending February 19, 2011

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

Synopsis:

During week 7 (February 13-19, 2011), influenza activity in the United States remained elevated.

• Of the 9,154 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, 2,866 (31.3%) were positive for influenza.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold for the fourth consecutive week.
• Six influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported bringing to season total to 41. Three of these deaths were associated with an influenza B virus, one was associated with an influenza A (H3) virus, one was associated with a 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, and one was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was not determined.
• The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 4.9%, which is above the national baseline of 2.5%. All 10 regions reported ILI above region-specific baseline levels. Twenty-one states experienced high ILI activity; six states experienced moderate ILI activity; New York City and 16 states experienced low ILI activity; seven states experienced minimal ILI activity, and the District of Columbia had insufficient data.
• The geographic spread of influenza in 44 states was reported as widespread; four states reported regional influenza activity; the District of Columbia reported local influenza activity; Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and two states reported sporadic influenza activity, and Guam reported no influenza activity.

*HHS regions (Region 1 CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT; Region 2: NJ, NY, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands; Region 3: DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV; Region 4: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN; Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI; Region 6: AR, LA, NM, OK, TX; Region 7: IA, KS, MO, NE; Region 8: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY; Region 9: AZ, CA, Guam, HI, NV; and Region 10: 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, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands

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 and the number positive by influenza type and subtype. The results of tests performed during the current week are summarized in the table below.

	Week 7
No. of specimens tested	9,154
No. of positive specimens (%)	2,866 (31.3%)
Positive specimens by type/subtype
Influenza A	2,224 (77.6%)
A (2009 H1N1)	585 (26.3%)
A (subtyping not performed)	883 (39.7%)
A (H3)	755 (33.9%)
Influenza B	642 (22.4%)

All influenza types and subtypes have been identified at high levels this season, and continue to circulate widely. The predominant virus has varied by week, region, and even between states within the same region. Nationally, an increased proportion of subtyped influenza A viruses have been identified as 2009 influenza A (H1N1) over the last few weeks.

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Aggregate Hospitalization and Death Reporting Activity (AHDRA):

This system tracks weekly counts of laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths and was implemented on August 30, 2009, during the 2009 pandemic, and ended on April 4, 2010. AHDRA surveillance during the 2010-11 season is being continued on a voluntary basis and 14 jurisdictions reported during week 7. From October 3, 2010 – February 19, 2011, 8,227 laboratory-confirmed influenza associated hospitalizations and 115 laboratory-confirmed influenza associated deaths were reported to CDC.

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Antigenic Characterization:

CDC has antigenically characterized 809 influenza viruses [124 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses, 419 influenza A (H3N2) viruses, and 266 influenza B viruses] collected by U.S. laboratories since October 1, 2010.

2009 Influenza A (H1N1) [124]

• One hundred twenty-three (99.2%) of the 124 tested were characterized as A/California/7/2009-like, the influenza A (H1N1) component of the 2010-11 influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere. One virus (0.8%) of the 124 tested showed reduced titers with antiserum produced against A/California/7/2009.

Influenza A (H3N2) [419]

• Four hundred fourteen (98.8%) of the 419 tested were characterized as A/Perth/16/2009-like, the influenza A (H3N2) component of the 2010-11 influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere. Five viruses (1.2%) of the 419 tested showed reduced titers with antiserum produced against A/Perth/16/2009.

Influenza B (B/Victoria/02/87 and B/Yamagata/16/88 lineages) [266]
Victoria Lineage [253]

• Two hundred fifty-three (95.1%) of the 266 influenza B viruses tested belong to the B/Victoria lineage of viruses.
• 252 (99.6%) of these 253 viruses were characterized as B/Brisbane/60/2008-like, the recommended influenza B component for the 2010-11 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.
• One (0.4%) of these 253 viruses showed somewhat reduced titers with antisera produced against B/Brisbane/60/2008.

Yamagata Lineage [13]

• Thirteen (4.9%) of the 266 viruses were identified as belonging to the B/Yamagata lineage of viruses.

Antiviral Resistance:

Testing of 2009 influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), and influenza B virus isolates for resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) is performed at CDC using a functional assay. Additional 2009 influenza A (H1N1) clinical samples are tested for a single known mutation in the neuraminidase protein of the virus that confers oseltamivir resistance (H275Y). The data summarized below combine the results of both test methods and includes samples that were tested as part of routine surveillance purposes; it does not include diagnostic testing specifically done because of clinical suspicion of antiviral resistance.

High levels of resistance to the adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine) persist among 2009 influenza A (H1N1) and A (H3N2) viruses (the adamantanes are not effective against influenza B viruses) circulating globally. As a result of the sustained high levels of resistance, data from adamantane resistance testing are not presented weekly in the table below.

Neuraminidase Inhibitor Resistance Testing Results on Samples Collected Since October 1, 2010

	Virus Samples tested (n)	Resistant Viruses,   Number (%)   Oseltamivir	Virus Samples tested (n)	Resistant Viruses,   Number (%)   Zanamivir
Seasonal Influenza A (H1N1)	0	0 (0.0)	0	0 (0.0)
Influenza A (H3N2)	355	0 (0.0)	351	0 (0.0)
Influenza B	314	0 (0.0)	314	0 (0.0)
2009 Influenza A (H1N1)	386	1 (0.7)	140	0 (0.0)

To prevent the spread of antiviral resistant virus strains, CDC reminds clinicians and the public of the need to continue hand and cough hygiene measures for the duration of any symptoms of influenza, even while taking antiviral medications. Additional information on antiviral recommendations for treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza virus infection is available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/antivirals/index.htm.

Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance

During week 7, 8.3% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was above the epidemic threshold of 8.0% for week 7 and is the fourth consecutive week in which P&I has been above the epidemic threshold.

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Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality

Six influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 7. Three of these deaths were associated with an influenza B virus, one was associated with an influenza A (H3) virus, one was associated with a 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, and one was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was not determined. Forty-one deaths from 21 states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) and New York City have been reported during this influenza season.

Sixteen of the 41 deaths reported were associated with influenza B viruses, 10 deaths reported were associated with influenza A (H3) viruses, eight were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses, and seven were associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was not determined.

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Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations

FluSurv-NET conducts population-based surveillance for laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations in children (persons younger than 18 years) and adults. The current network covers over 80 counties in the 10 Emerging Infections Program (EIP) states (CA, CO, CT, GA, MD, MN, NM, NY, OR, and TN) and six additional states (ID, MI, OH, OK, RI, and UT).

The current season’s rates include cases from October 1, 2010 to February 19, 2011.

Click here to view rates for 2010-2011 season | View PowerPoint Presentation
Click here to view rates for 2009-2010 season
Click here to view rates for 2008-2009 season
Click here to view rates for 2007-2008 season

Please note the following: (i) The scale of the vertical axis on the Cumulative Hospitalization Rate figures will be adjusted during the season to make the graphs easier to read; (ii) FluSurv-NET was created during the 2009-2010 season when surveillance in six states was added to ongoing surveillance for influenza-associated hospitalizations in10 EIP states. During the 2009-2010 season, FluSurv-NET included sites in the 10 EIP sites and sites in IA, ID, MI, ND, OK, and SD; (iii) the 2008-2009 EIP season ended April 14, 2009, due to the onset of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

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¹Asthma may include a diagnosis of asthma and reactive airway disease; Cardiovascular diseases may include conditions such as coronary heart disease, cardiac valve disorders, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and aortic stenosis; Chronic lung diseases may include conditions such as bronchiolitis obliterans, chronic aspiration pneumonia, and interstitial lung disease; Immune suppression may include conditions such as immunoglobulin deficiency, leukemia, lymphoma, HIV/AIDS, and individuals taking immunosuppressive medications; Metabolic disorders may include conditions such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal insufficiency, and liver disease; Neurologic diseases may include conditions such as seizure disorders, neuromuscular disorders, and cognitive dysfunction; Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m² in patients 20 years of age or older, or equal to or greater than the 95^th percentile of a patient’s age and sex category in patients under 20 years of age; Renal diseases may include conditions such as acute or chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis, and impaired creatinine clearance.
²Data as of February 22, 2011. Includes 1,317 (of a total 3,117 reported) cases for which data collection has been completed through the medical chart review stage.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of laboratory-confirmed, influenza-associated hospitalizations identified in EIP¹ and FluSurv-NET² sites, 2006-2011

	2010-2011 FluSurv-NET3 N (%)	2009-2010 FluSurv-NET3 N (%)	2008-2009 EIP N (%)	2007-2008 EIP N (%)	2006-2007 EIP N (%)
Total Cases	3,117	7,517	1,698	3,930	1,279
Age in Years
0-4	524 (16.8)	1,326 (17.6)	549 (32.3)	639 (16.3)	393 (30.7)
5-17	235 (7.5)	1,204 (16.0)	244 (14.4)	221 (5.6)	130 (10.2)
18-49	815 (26.1)	2,779 (37.0)	374 (22.0)	736 (18.7)	246 (19.2)
50-64	558 (17.9)	1,458 (19.4)	201 (11.8)	585 (14.9)	155 (12.1)
65+	981 (31.5)	750 (10.0)	330 (19.4)	1,749 (44.5)	355 (27.8)
Sex
Male	1,451 (46.6)	3,517 (46.8)	832 (49.0)	1,825 (46.4)	631 (49.3)
Female	1,655 (53.1)	4,000 (53.2)	866 (51.0)	2,104 (53.5)	648 (50.7)
Flu Type and Subtype
Influenza A	2,521 (80.9)	7,355 (97.8)	1,236 (72.8)	2,562 (65.2)	1,082 (84.6)
Specimens subtyped4	555	5,325	--	--	--
A (H1)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	--	--	--
A (H3)	425 (76.6)	3 (0.1)	--	--	--
A (2009 H1N1)	130 (23.4)	5,322 (99.9)	--	--	--
Influenza B	484 (15.5)	52 (0.7)	382 (22.5)	1,199 (30.5)	149 (11.6)
Intensive Care Unit	208 (15.8)	1,560 (20.8)	298 (17.6)	495 (12.6)	198 (15.5)
Mechanical Ventilation	83 (6.3)	758 (10.1)	157 (9.2)	252 (6.4)	111 (8.7)
Diagnosis of Pneumonia	340 (25.8)	2,804 (37.3)	407 (24.0)	1,220 (31.0)	404 (31.6)
Died	25 (1.9)	222 (3.0)	49 (2.9)	104 (2.6)	24 (1.9)

Columns may not sum to 100% due to missing or unknown values.
¹Surveillance in EIP states (CA, CO, CT, GA, MD, MN, NM, NY, OR, TN) was conducted from 2006-2011.
²FluSurv-Net includes surveillance at EIP sites and at sites in additional states (IA, ID, MI, ND, OK, SD in 2009-2010; ID, MI, OH, OK, RI, UT in 2010-2011).
³Data as of February 22, 2011. Results describing influenza A subtype, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, diagnosis of pneumonia, and death are from 7,513 (of a total 7,517 reported) and 1,317 (of a total 3,117 reported) cases for which data collection has been completed through the medical chart review stage for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons, respectively.
⁴Influenza A subtype results are available beginning with the 2007-2008 season. Percentages for influenza A subtypes are calculated using the number of influenza A specimens that were subtyped as a denominator.

Outpatient Illness Surveillance:

Nationwide during week 7, 4.9% 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 above the national baseline of 2.5%.

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

On a regional level, the percentage of outpatient visits for ILI ranged from 2.6% to 7.3% during week 7. All 10 regions reported a proportion of outpatient visits for ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels.

Note: The region specific baseline for Region 8 was modified from 1.4% to 1.7% to reflect changes to data from previous seasons. These additional data did not affect the national baseline which remains at 2.5% for this season.

ILINet State Activity Indicator Map:

Data collected in ILINet are used to produce a measure of ILI activity* by state. Activity levels are based on the percent of outpatient visits in a state due to ILI and are compared to the average percent of ILI visits that occur during spring and fall weeks with little or no influenza virus circulation. Activity levels range from minimal, which would correspond to ILI activity from outpatient clinics being below the average, to high, which would correspond to ILI activity from outpatient clinics being much higher than the average. Because the clinical definition of ILI is very general, not all ILI is caused by influenza; however, when combined with laboratory data, the information on ILI activity provides a clear picture of influenza activity in the United States.

During week 7, the following ILI activity levels were experienced:

• Twenty-one states (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia) experienced high ILI activity.
• Six states (Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Utah) experienced moderate ILI activity.
• New York City and 16 states (Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) experienced low ILI activity.
• Minimal ILI activity was experienced by seven states (Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).
• The District of Columbia had insufficient data to calculate an activity level.

*This map uses the proportion of outpatient visits to health care providers for influenza-like illness to measure the ILI activity level within a state. It does not, however, measure the extent of geographic spread of flu within a state. Therefore, outbreaks occurring in a single city could cause the state to display high activity levels.
Data collected in ILINet may disproportionately represent certain populations within a state, and therefore, may not accurately depict the full picture of influenza activity for the whole state.
Data displayed in this map are based on data collected in ILINet, whereas the State and Territorial flu activity map are based on reports from state and territorial epidemiologists. The data presented in this map is preliminary and may change as more data is received.
Differences in the data presented by CDC and state health departments likely represent differing levels of data completeness with data presented by the state likely being the more complete.

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

The influenza activity reported by state and territorial epidemiologists indicates geographic spread of influenza viruses, but does not measure the severity of influenza activity.

During week 7, the following influenza activity was reported:

• Widespread influenza activity was reported by 44 states (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming).
• Regional influenza activity was reported by four states (Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Utah).
• The District of Columbia reported local activity.
• Sporadic influenza activity was reported by Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and two states (Hawaii and Oregon).
• Guam reported no influenza activity.