Editor's note: For the latest flu coverage, visit https://www.aappublications.org/collection/influenza.
Pediatric flu deaths grew to 56 after 15 more were reported last week.
Flu doesn’t appear to be slowing down for the season just yet. The proportion of outpatient clinic visits for flu remained at 5% for the week ending Feb. 23, and the virus is widespread in every state except Hawaii, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC estimates 20.4 million to 23.6 million people have gotten sick and as many as 26,700 have died from flu this season.
Flu has caused up to 302,000 people to be hospitalized, a rate of 32.1 per 100,000 people. Young children have the second-highest hospitalization rate at 45.5 per 100,000 children. Among hospitalized children with information available, 43.8% had an underlying medical condition, most commonly asthma.
Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 has been predominant in most of the country for much of the season. Last week, however, influenza A (H3) viruses were most common.
The CDC and the Academy recommend everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu. Flu vaccine is 61% effective for children and 47% for the overall population, according to interim data from the CDC.
Inactivated influenza vaccine is the primary vaccine choice, while quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine may be used for children who would not otherwise receive a vaccine, according to AAP policy.
