The results of tests performed by clinical laboratories nationwide are summarized below. Data from clinical laboratories (the percentage of specimens tested that are positive for influenza) are used to monitor whether influenza activity is increasing or decreasing.
Week 14 | Data Cumulative since September 29, 2019 (week 40) |
|
---|---|---|
No. of specimens tested | 22,324 | 1,303,970 |
No. of positive specimens (%) | 180 (0.8%) |
247,785 (19.0%) |
Positive specimens by type | ||
Influenza A | 105 (58.3%) | 132,461 (53.5%) |
Influenza B | 75 (41.7%) | 115,324 (46.5%) |
The results of tests performed by public health laboratories nationwide are summarized below. Data from public health laboratories are used to monitor the proportion of circulating viruses that belong to each influenza subtype/lineage.
Week 14 | Data Cumulative since September 29, 2019 (week 40) |
|
---|---|---|
No. of specimens tested | 356 | 81,392 |
No. of positive specimens | 35 | 43,456 |
Positive specimens by type/subtype | ||
Influenza A | 31 (88.6%) | 24,822 (57.1%) |
(H1N1)pdm09 | 28 (96.6%) | 22,324 (92.6%) |
H3N2 | 1 (3.4%) | 1,780 (7.4%) |
Subtyping not performed | 2 | 718 |
Influenza B | 4 (11.4%) | 18,634 (42.9%) |
Yamagata lineage | 0 (0.0%) | 238 (1.6%) |
Victoria lineage | 0 (0.0%) | 14,198 (98.4%) |
Lineage not performed | 4 | 4,198 |
While influenza B/Victoria viruses predominated earlier in the season, during recent weeks, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses have been reported more frequently than B/Victoria viruses nationally and in all surveillance regions. For the season, A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses are the predominant virus nationally. Regional and state level data about circulating influenza viruses can be found on FluView Interactive.
The predominant virus also varies by age group. Nationally, for the season overall, influenza B viruses are the most commonly reported influenza viruses among persons 5-24 years, while influenza A viruses are the most commonly reported influenza viruses among persons 0-4 years and 25 years and older. In the most recent three weeks, influenza A viruses are the most commonly reported influenza viruses in all age groups.
Additional virologic surveillance information for current and past seasons:
Surveillance Methods | FluView Interactive: National, Regional, and State Data or Age Data
CDC performs genetic and antigenic characterization of U.S. viruses submitted from state and local health laboratories using Right Size Roadmap submission guidance. These data are used to compare how similar the currently circulating influenza viruses are to the reference viruses used for developing new influenza vaccines and to monitor evolutionary changes that continually occur in circulating influenza viruses. Antigenic characterization data are based on an animal model (influenza-naive ferrets), and do not reflect pre-existing protection provided by past influenza infections and vaccinations. Additional antigenic characterization studies involving people vaccinated with current influenza vaccines are conducted later in the season; these data account for pre-existing protection in different populations against circulating influenza viruses. Genetic and antigenic characterization data are not used to make calculations about vaccine effectiveness (VE). CDC conducts VE studies each year to measure the benefits of flu vaccines in people. Interim estimates of 2019-2020 flu vaccine effectiveness have been released.
CDC genetically characterized 2,463 influenza viruses collected in the U.S. from September 29, 2019, to April 4, 2020.
Virus Subtype or Lineage | Genetic Characterization | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total No. of Subtype/Lineage Tested | Â Â Â Â Â Â Clade | Number (% of subtype/lineage tested) | Â Â Â Â Â Â Subclade | Number (% of subtype/lineage tested) | |
A/H1 | 896 | ||||
6B.1A | 896 (100%) | ||||
A/H3 | 510 | ||||
3C.2a | 480 (94.1%) | 2a1 | 480 (94.1%) | ||
  | 2a2 | 0 | |||
   | 2a3 | 0 | |||
2a4 | 0 | ||||
3C.3a | 30 (5.9%) | 3a | 30 (5.9%) | ||
B/Victoria | 965 | ||||
V1A | 965 (100%) | V1A | 0 | ||
V1A.1 | 60 (6.2%) | ||||
V1A.3 | 905 (93.8%) | ||||
B/Yamagata | 92 | ||||
Y3 | 92 (100%) |
CDC antigenically characterizes a subset of influenza viruses by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) or neutralization based Focus Reduction assays (FRA). Antigenic drift is evaluated by comparing antigenic properties of cell-propagated reference viruses representing currently recommended vaccine components with those of cell-propagated circulating viruses. CDC antigenically characterized 547 influenza viruses collected in the United States from September 29, 2019, to April 4, 2020. These data are not used to make calculations about vaccine effectiveness (VE). CDC conducts VE studies each year to measure the benefits of flu vaccines in people.
Influenza A Viruses
Influenza B Viruses
CDC also assesses susceptibility of influenza viruses to the antiviral medications including the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir) and the PA endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir using next generation sequence analysis supplemented by laboratory assays. Viruses collected in the United States since September 29, 2019, were tested for antiviral susceptibility as follows:
Antiviral Medication | Total Viruses* | A/H1 | A/H3 | B/Victoria | B/Yamagata | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neuraminidase Inhibitors | |||||||
Oseltamivir | Viruses Tested | 2,433 | 885 | 502 | 954 | 92 | |
Reduced Inhibition | 1 (0.04%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | 1 (0.1%) | (0.0%) | ||
Highly Reduced Inhibition | 4 (0.2%) | 4 (0.5%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | ||
Peramivir | Viruses Tested | 2,433 | 885 | 502 | 954 | 92 | |
Reduced Inhibition | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | ||
Highly Reduced Inhibition | 5 (0.2%) | 4 (0.5%) | (0.0%) | 1 (0.1%) | (0.0%) | ||
Zanamivir | Viruses Tested | 2,433 | 885 | 502 | 954 | 92 | |
Reduced Inhibition | 2 (0.1%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | 2 (0.2%) | (0.0%) | ||
Highly Reduced Inhibition | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | ||
PA Endonuclease Inhibitor | |||||||
Baloxavir | Viruses Tested | 2,541 | 884 | 584 | 978 | 95 | |
Reduced Susceptibility | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) | (0.0%) |
*Six influenza viruses showed reduced or highly reduced inhibition by at least one neuraminidase inhibitor. Four A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses showed highly reduced inhibition to oseltamivir and peramivir while showing normal inhibition to zanamivir. In addition, one B/Victoria virus showed highly reduced inhibition to peramivir and reduced inhibition to oseltamivir and zanamivir, while another influenza B/Victoria virus showed reduced inhibition to zanamivir.
A total of 556 additional viruses (211 A(H1N1)pdm09, 32 A(H3N2), and 313 B) collected in Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia and Wisconsin were analyzed for resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors by pyrosequencing assay. Three (1.4%) of the 211 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses tested had the H275Y amino acid substitution in the neuraminidase and showed highly reduced inhibition by oseltamivir and peramivir. No molecular markers associated with reduced or highly reduced inhibition by neuraminidase inhibitors were detected in A(H3N2) and type B viruses tested.
Nationwide during week 14, 3.9% 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 2.4%.
On a regional level, the percentage of outpatient visits for ILI ranged from 2.4% to 10.0% during week 14. All regions decreased in percentage of outpatient visits for ILI compared to last week, but all regions reported a percentage of outpatient visits for ILI above their region-specific baselines.
Data collected in ILINet are used to produce a measure of ILI activity* by state.
During week 14, the following ILI activity levels were experienced:
*Data collected in ILINet may disproportionally represent certain populations within a state, and therefore, may not accurately depict the full picture of influenza activity for the whole state. Differences in the data presented here by CDC and independently by some state health departments likely represent differing levels of data completeness with data presented by the state likely being the more complete.
Among the 21 jurisdictions with high ILI activity, ILI increased relative to the previous week in two, remained stable in two and declined in 17. Sixteen of the jurisdictions with high ILI activity also had clinical laboratory data available and in those, the percent of specimens testing positive for influenza decreased in all but one.
Additional information about medically attended visits for ILI for current and past seasons:
Surveillance Methods | FluView Interactive: National, Regional, and State Data or ILI Activity Map
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 14, the following influenza activity was reported:
Additional geographic spread surveillance information for current and past seasons:
Surveillance Methods | FluView Interactive
The Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET) conducts population-based surveillance for laboratory-confirmed influenza-related hospitalizations in select counties in the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) states and Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Project (IHSP) states.
A total of 19,802 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations were reported by FluSurv-NET sites between October 1, 2019 and April 4, 2020; 14,309 (72.3%) were associated with influenza A virus, 5,379 (27.2%) with influenza B virus, 59 (0.3%) with influenza A virus and influenza B virus co-infection, and 55 (0.3%) with influenza virus for which the type was not determined. Among those with influenza A subtype information, 3,806 (94.5%) were A(H1N1)pdm09 virus and 223 (5.5%) were A(H3N2).
The overall cumulative hospitalization rate was 68.2 per 100,000 population, which is higher than all recent seasons at this time of year except for the 2017-18 season. Rates in children 0-4 years old and adults 18-49 years old are now the highest CDC has on record for these age groups, surpassing the rate reported during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Hospitalization rates for school-aged children are higher than any recent regular season but lower than rates during the pandemic.
The highest rate of hospitalization is among adults aged ≥ 65, followed by children aged 0-4 years and adults aged 50-64 years.
Age Group | 2019-2020 Season Cumulative Rate per 100,000 Population |
---|---|
Overall | 68.2 |
0-4 years | 94.1 |
5-17 years | 24.6 |
18-49 years | 35.6 |
50-64 years | 90.2 |
65+ years | 179.7 |
Among 3,433 hospitalized adults with information on underlying medical conditions, 92.3% had at least one reported underlying medical condition, the most commonly reported were cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorder, obesity, and chronic lung disease. Among 569 hospitalized children with information on underlying medical conditions, 48.5% had at least one underlying medical condition; the most commonly reported was asthma. Among 600 hospitalized women of childbearing age (15-44 years) with information on pregnancy status, 27.2% were pregnant.
Additional hospitalization surveillance information for current and past seasons and additional age groups:
Surveillance Methods | FluView Interactive: Rates by Age or Patient Characteristics
Based on National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) mortality surveillance data available on March 26, 2020, 10.0% of the deaths occurring during the week ending March 28, 2020 (week 13) were due to P&I. This percentage is above the epidemic threshold of 7.1% for week 13.
While the percent of all deaths due to P&I has increased during weeks 9-13 (7.4-10.0%), the percent of all deaths with Influenza listed as a cause have decreased (from 1.0% to 0.7%) over this same time period. The increase in pneumonia deaths during this time period are likely associated with COVID-19 rather than influenza.
Additional pneumonia and influenza mortality surveillance information for current and past seasons:
Surveillance Methods | FluView Interactive
Four influenza-associated pediatric deaths occurring during the 2019-2020 season between weeks 7 and 14 (the weeks ending February 15, 2020 and April 4, 2020) were reported to CDC during week 14. Two were associated with influenza A viruses, and one was subtyped as an A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. Two were associated with influenza B viruses, and neither had a lineage determined.
Of the 166 influenza-associated pediatric deaths occurring during the 2019-2020 season and reported to CDC:
Additional pediatric mortality surveillance information for current and past seasons:
Surveillance Methods | FluView Interactive
FluView Interactive: FluView includes enhanced web-based interactive applications that can provide dynamic visuals of the influenza data collected and analyzed by CDC. These FluView Interactive applications allow people to create customized, visual interpretations of influenza data, as well as make comparisons across flu seasons, regions, age groups and a variety of other demographics. To access these tools, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluviewinteractive.htm
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Monthly surveillance data on the prevalence of health-related workplace absenteeism among full-time workers in the United States are available from NIOSH at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/absences/default.html
U.S. State and local influenza surveillance:Select a jurisdiction below to access the latest local influenza information
World Health Organization: Additional influenza surveillance information from participating WHO member nations is available through FluNet and the Global Epidemiology Reports.
WHO Collaborating Centers for Influenza located in Australia, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (CDC in Atlanta, Georgia).
Europe: For the most recent influenza surveillance information from Europe, please see WHO/Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control at http://www.flunewseurope.org/.
Public Health Agency of Canada: The most up-to-date influenza information from Canada is available at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/
Public Health England: The most up-to-date influenza information from the United Kingdom is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/weekly-national-flu-reports
An overview of the CDC influenza surveillance system, including methodology and detailed descriptions of each data component, is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/overview.htm.
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