Laboratory-confirmed flu activity as reported by clinical laboratories remains low, according to the CDC's FluView report for Week 17, ending April 25, 2020. Influenza-like illness activity continues to decrease and is below the national baseline. The percent of deaths due to pneumonia or influenza (P&I) is high but the increase is due primarily to COVID-19, not influenza. Reported pediatric flu deaths for the season are high at 170.

The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza at clinical laboratories is 0.2%. This is down from 0.4% the previous week.

Nationally, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses are now the most commonly reported influenza viruses this season.

Visits to healthcare providers for influenza-like illness (ILI) decreased from 2.2% last week to 1.8% this week. Nationally, ILI is below baseline, but 4 of 10 regions are above their baselines.

Three jurisdictions experienced high ILI activity this week compared to 8 jurisdictions that experienced high or very high last week.

The number of jurisdictions reporting regional influenza activity decreased from 10 last week to 5 this week. No jurisdictions reported widespread influenza activity.

The overall cumulative hospitalization rate for the season increased to 69.0 per 100,000.

The percentage of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza is 9.3%, down from 13.6% last week, but above the epidemic threshold of 6.8%.

One influenza-associated pediatric death occurring during the 2019-2020 season was reported this week. The total for the season is 170.

Source: CDC