Editor's note:For the latest flu coverage, visit https://www.aappublications.org/collection/influenza.
Outpatient visits for flu dropped last week but remain high, and five more pediatric deaths were reported.
About 5.8% of outpatient clinic visits were for flu during the week ending Jan. 4, down from 7% the previous week but higher than many seasons.
“Key indicators that track flu activity remain high, but indicators that track severity (hospitalizations and deaths) are not high at this point in the season,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its online weekly flu update.
The previous spike may have been due in part to the holidays when people weren’t going to clinics for routine visits, according to the CDC. It could not say whether the virus has peaked this season.
Five more pediatric deaths were reported last week, bringing the total to 32. Children ages 4 and under have the second-highest hospitalization rate at 26.8 per 100,000 children.
Across all ages, the hospitalization rate is 14.6 per 100,000 people. The CDC estimates 9.7 million people have gotten sick, 87,000 have been hospitalized and 4,800 have died.
Flu is widespread in 46 states and Puerto Rico, and activity is high in 33 states, Washington, D.C., New York City and Puerto Rico.
Influenza B/Victoria viruses have been predominant, followed by influenza A (H1N1)pdm09. These viruses tend to affect children and young adults, according to the CDC.
The CDC and the Academy recommend everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu.
