During the 2016 to 2017 influenza season, influenza activity is increasing after the CDC reported nine influenza-associated pediatric deaths for the week ending Feb. 11, 2017.
Here are nine findings from the report:
1. Of these nine deaths, six were linked to the influenza A (H3) virus, two were associated with influenza A virus with no subtype and one was linked to the influenza B virus.
2. There have been 29 total influenza-associated pediatric deaths for the 2016 to 2017 flu season.
3. The number of people seeing their provider for influenza-like illnesses jumped 5.2 percent for the week ending Feb. 11, which is above the national baseline of 2.2 percent.
4. In addition to Puerto Rico, 46 states reported widespread influenza activity.
5. CDC data shows 8,222 reported laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations since Oct. 1, 2016, which translates to 29.4 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.
6. This rate is lower than the 2012 to 2013 flu season which had an overall rate of 35.1 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.
7. The hospitalization rate for people 65 years and older is 136.6 per 100,000 people.
8. For children younger than five, the rate was 16.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 people this flu season.
9. For the week ending Jan. 28, 2017, the number of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was 7.8 percent.
