Forty-one influenza-associated pediatric deaths have occurred during the 2018-2019 flu season, reported to CDC as of Feb. 16, according to CDC’s most recent FluView report.

Five things to know about it:

1. The percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness increased to 5.1 percent for the week ending Feb. 16. It is above the national baseline of 2.2 percent. All 10 regions reported influenza-like illness at or above their region-specific baseline level.

2. The percentage of respiratory specimens that tested positive for influenza viruses in clinical laboratories increased. In most areas of the country Influenza A (H1N1) viruses predominated. But, in the southeastern U.S. influenza A(H3) viruses predominated.

3. The CDC reported 7,922 laboratory-confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations from Oct. 1, 2018, through Feb. 16. The overall flu-associated hospitalization rate was 27.4 per 100,000 population.

4. Thirty states experienced high influenza-like illness activity for the week ending Feb. 16. Eleven states recorded moderate activity, six states recorded low activity and three states recorded minimal activity.

5. For the week ending Feb. 16, forty-eight states reported widespread flu activity. West Virginia reported regional activity, and Hawaii reported sporadic activity.

Reference : https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/pediatric-flu-death-toll-climbs-to-41-5-things-to-know.html