FluView Summary ending on August 17, 2024

Viruses

Illness

All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.

Directional arrows indicate changes between the current week and the previous week. Additional information on the arrows can be found at the bottom of this page.

A description of the CDC influenza surveillance system, including methodology and detailed descriptions of each data component is available on the surveillance methods page.

Additional information on the current and previous influenza seasons for each surveillance component are available on FluView Interactive.

U.S. Virologic Surveillance

Nationally, the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza in clinical laboratories remained stable (change of ≤0.5 percentage points) compared to the previous week. Nationally, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and B/Victoria viruses are all co-circulating. However, the distribution of circulating viruses varies by region. For regional and state level data and age group distribution, please visit FluView Interactive.

Clinical Laboratories

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 virus) are used to monitor whether influenza activity is increasing or decreasing.

Novel Influenza A Virus:

Two human infections with novel influenza A viruses were reported to CDC this week. One infection with an influenza A(H1N1) variant (A(H1N1)v) virus was reported by the Ohio Department of Health and one infection with an influenza A(H1N2)v was reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Both patients are >18 years of age, and developed symptoms and sought healthcare during the week ending August 10, 2024 (Week 32). Both patients were briefly hospitalized due to underlying medical conditions and have since recovered. Investigation by Ohio public health officials found the Ohio patient had exposure to swine at an agricultural event prior to the patient’s illness onset. Investigation by Pennsylvania public health officials found the Pennsylvania patient had occupational exposure to swine. No symptoms were reported among close contacts of either case after the cases’ symptom onset, and no human-to-human transmission related to these cases has been identified.

No new human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus were reported during Week 33. An ongoing outbreak of H5N1 continues in domestic dairy cattle and poultry, and monitoring for additional cases is ongoing.

A total of seven variant influenza cases have been reported during the 2023-2024 season (four A(H1N2)v, two A(H3N2)v, and one A(H1N1)v). Thirteen cases of human infection with influenza A (H5) have been reported this season, for a total of 20 novel influenza A cases reported during the 2023-2024 season.

When an influenza virus that normally circulates in swine (but not people) is detected in a person, it is called a “variant” influenza virus. Most human infections with variant influenza viruses occur following exposure to swine, but human-to-human transmission can occur. It is important to note that in most cases, variant influenza viruses have not shown the ability to spread easily and sustainably from person to person.

Early identification and investigation of human infections with novel influenza A viruses are critical so that the risk of infection can be understood, and appropriate public health measures can be taken.

Additional information on influenza in swine, variant influenza virus infection in humans, and guidance to interact safely with swine can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/index.htm.

Additional information regarding human infections with novel influenza A viruses:

Surveillance Methods  |  FluView Interactive

Influenza Virus Characterization

CDC performs genetic and antigenic characterization of U.S. viruses submitted from state and local public health laboratories according to the Right Size Roadmap submission guidance. These data are used to compare how similar the currently circulating influenza viruses are to the reference viruses representing viruses contained in the current influenza vaccines. The data are also used to monitor evolutionary changes that continually occur in influenza viruses circulating in humans. CDC also tests susceptibility of circulating influenza viruses to antiviral medications including the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir) and the PA endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir.

CDC has genetically characterized 5,295 influenza viruses collected since October 1, 2023.

CDC antigenically characterizes influenza viruses by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) (H1N1pdm09, H3N2, B/Victoria, and B/Yamagata viruses) or neutralization-based HINT (H3N2 viruses) using antisera that ferrets make after being infected with reference viruses representing the 2023-2024 Northern Hemisphere recommended cell or recombinant-based vaccine viruses. Antigenic differences between viruses are determined by comparing how well the antibodies made against the vaccine reference viruses recognize the circulating viruses that have been grown in cell culture. Ferret antisera are useful because antibodies raised against a particular virus can often recognize small changes in the surface proteins of other viruses. In HI assays, viruses with similar antigenic properties have antibody titer differences of less than or equal to 4-fold when compared to the reference (vaccine) virus. In HINT, viruses with similar antigenic properties have antibody neutralization titer differences of less than or equal to 8-fold. Viruses selected for antigenic characterization are a subset representing the genetic changes in the surface proteins seen in genetically characterized viruses.

Influenza A Viruses

• A (H1N1)pdm09: 561 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were antigenically characterized by HI, and 560 (99.8%) were well-recognized (reacting at titers that were within 4-fold of the homologous virus titer) by ferret antisera to cell-grown A/Wisconsin/67/2022-like reference viruses representing the A(H1N1)pdm09 component for the cell- and recombinant-based influenza vaccines.
• A (H3N2): 647 A(H3N2) viruses were antigenically characterized by HI or HINT, and 613 (94.7%) were well-recognized (reacting at titers that were within 4-fold of the homologous virus titer in HI or reacting at titers that were less than or equal to 8-fold of the homologous virus in HINT) by ferret antisera to cell-grown A/Darwin/6/2021-like reference viruses representing the A(H3N2) component for the cell- and recombinant-based influenza vaccines.

Influenza B Viruses

• B/Victoria: 427 influenza B/Victoria-lineage virus were antigenically characterized by HI, and all were well-recognized (reacting at titers that were within 4-fold of the homologous virus titer) by ferret antisera to cell-grown B/Austria/1359417/2021-like reference viruses representing the B/Victoria component for the cell- and recombinant-based influenza vaccines.
• B/Yamagata: No influenza B/Yamagata-lineage viruses were available for antigenic characterization.

Assessment of Virus Susceptibility to Antiviral Medications

CDC 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. Information about antiviral susceptibility test methods can be found at U.S. Influenza Surveillance: Purpose and Methods | CDC.

Viruses collected in the U.S. since October 1, 2023, were tested for antiviral susceptibility as follows:

Four A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses had NA-H275Y amino acid substitution and one A(H1N1)pdm09 virus had NA-H275Y/H, conferring highly reduced inhibition by oseltamivir and peramivir. One (H1N1)pdm09 virus had NA-I223V and NA-S247N amino acid substitutions and showed reduced inhibition by oseltamivir. Two B viruses had NA-A245G amino acid substitution and showed reduced inhibition by peramivir. One B virus had NA-D197N amino acid substitution and showed reduced inhibition by zanamivir and peramivir. One B virus had NA-H273Y amino acid substitution and showed highly reduced inhibition by peramivir. One A(H3N2) virus had PA-I38T amino acid substitution and showed reduced susceptibility to baloxavir.

High levels of resistance to the adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine) persist among influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza A(H3N2) viruses (the adamantanes are not effective against influenza B viruses). Therefore, use of these antivirals for treatment and prevention of influenza A virus infection is not recommended and data from adamantane resistance testing are not presented.

Outpatient Respiratory Illness Surveillance

The U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) monitors outpatient visits for respiratory illness referred to as influenza-like illness [ILI (fever plus cough or sore throat)], not laboratory-confirmed influenza and will therefore capture respiratory illness visits due to infection with pathogens that can present with similar symptoms, including influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, and RSV. It is important to evaluate syndromic surveillance data, including that from ILINet, in the context of other sources of surveillance data to obtain a more complete and accurate picture of influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory virus activity. CDC is providing integrated information about COVID-19, influenza, and RSV activity on a website that is updated weekly. Information about other respiratory virus activity can be found on CDC’s National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) website.

Outpatient Respiratory Illness Visits

Nationally, the percentage of visits for respiratory illness that were reported through ILINet remained stable (change of ≤ 0.1 percentage points) compared to the previous week and is below the national baseline. All 10 regions are below their region-specific baselines. Multiple respiratory viruses are co-circulating, and the relative contribution of influenza virus infection to ILI varies by location.

Outpatient Respiratory Illness Visits by Age Group

About 70% of ILINet participants provide both the number of patient visits for respiratory illness and the total number of patient visits for the week broken out by age group. Data from this subset of providers are used to calculate the percentages of patient visits for respiratory illness by age group.

The percentage of visits for respiratory illness reported in ILINet increased in the 5-24 years age group and remained stable for all other age groups in Week 33 compared to Week 32.

Outpatient Respiratory Illness Activity Map

Data collected in ILINet are used to produce a measure of ILI activity* by state/jurisdiction and Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA).

*Data collected in ILINet may disproportionally represent certain populations within a jurisdiction or CBSA, and therefore, may not accurately depict the full picture of influenza activity for the entire jurisdiction or CBSA. Differences in the data presented here by CDC and independently by some health departments likely represent differing levels of data completeness with data presented by the health department likely being the more complete.

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

Hospitalization Surveillance

FluSurv-NET

The Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET) conducts population-based surveillance for laboratory-confirmed influenza-related hospitalizations in select counties in 14 states and represents approximately 9% of the U.S. population. FluSurv-NET hospitalization data are preliminary. As data are received each week, prior case counts and rates are updated accordingly.

A total of 25,415 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations were reported by FluSurv-NET sites between October 1, 2023, and August 17, 2024. The weekly hospitalization rate observed in Week 33 was 0.1 per 100,000 population. The peak weekly hospitalization rate observed this season was 8.9 per 100,000 population and occurred during Week 52.

Among 25,415 hospitalizations, 21,460 (84.4%) were associated with influenza A virus, 3,748 (14.7%) with influenza B virus, 55 (0.2%) with influenza A virus and influenza B virus co-infection, and 152 (0.6%) with influenza virus for which the type was not determined. Among those with influenza A subtype information, 4,341 (67.5%) were A(H1N1) pdm09 and 2,093 (32.5%) were A(H3N2).

**In this figure, weekly rates for all seasons prior to the 2023-2024 season reflect end-of-season rates. For the 2023-2024 season, rates for recent hospital admissions are subject to reporting delays and are shown as a dashed line for the current season. As hospitalization data are received each week, prior case counts and rates are updated accordingly.

Additional FluSurv-NET hospitalization surveillance information for current and past seasons and additional age groups:
Surveillance Methods |FluView Interactive: Rates by Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity or Data on Patient Characteristics | RESP-NET Interactive

National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Hospitalization Surveillance

Effective May 1, 2024, hospitals are no longer required to report hospital admissions, hospital capacity, or hospital occupancy data to HHS through NHSN. Voluntarily reported NHSN hospital data can found at Weekly United States Hospitalization Metrics by Jurisdiction.

Additional NHSN Hospitalization Surveillance information:
Surveillance Methods | Additional Data | FluView Interactive

Mortality Surveillance

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance

Based on NCHS mortality surveillance data available on August 22, 2024, the percentage of deaths that were due to influenza remained stable (<0.1 percentage point change) compared to the previous week. The data presented are preliminary and may change as more data are received and processed.

Additional pneumonia, influenza and COVID-19 mortality surveillance information for current and past seasons:
Surveillance Methods | FluView Interactive

Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality

One influenza-associated pediatric death occurring during the 2023-2024 season was reported to CDC during Week 33. The death was associated with an influenza A virus with no subtyping performed and occurred during Week 14 (the week ending April 6, 2024).

A total of 194 influenza-associated pediatric deaths occurring during the 2023-2024 season have been reported to CDC.

Additional pediatric mortality surveillance information for current and past seasons:
Surveillance Methods | FluView Interactive

Trend Indicators

Increasing:
Decreasing:
Stable:

Indicators Status by System

Clinical Labs: Up or down arrows indicate a change of greater than or equal to 0.5 percentage points in the percent of specimens positive for influenza compared to the previous week.
Outpatient Respiratory Illness (ILINet): Up or down arrows indicate a change of greater than 0.1 percentage points in the percent of visits due to respiratory illness (ILI) compared to the previous week.
NHSN Hospitalizations: Up or down arrows indicate change of greater than or equal to 5% of the number of patients admitted with laboratory-confirmed influenza compared to the previous week.
NCHS Mortality: Up or down arrows indicate change of greater than 0.1 percentage points of the percent of deaths due to influenza compared to the previous week.

Reference Footnotes

¹U.S. Influenza Surveillance:  Purpose and Methods (2023 Oct). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/overview.htm#ILINet.

²Grohskopf LA, Blanton LH, Ferdinands JM, Chung JR, Broder KR, Talbot HK. Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2023–24 Influenza Season. MMWR Recomm Rep 2023;72(No. RR-2):1–25. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr7202a1

³Influenza Antiviral Medications: Summary for Clinicians (2023 Sept). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/summary-clinicians.htm.

Additional National and International Influenza Surveillance Information

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.

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.

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:
Australia, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (CDC in Atlanta, Georgia)

Europe:
The most up-to-date influenza information from Europe is available from WHO/Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Public Health Agency of Canada:
The most up-to-date influenza information from Canada is available in Canada’s weekly FluWatch report.

Public Health England:
The most up-to-date influenza information from the United Kingdom is available from Public Health England.

Any links provided to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization web pages found at these links.

A description of the CDC influenza surveillance system, including methodology and detailed descriptions of each data component is available on the surveillance methods page.