Weekly Flu Report, April 8, 2022

Massachusetts Department of Public Health weekly influenza update

Table of Contents

This week's report

Highlights

  • Influenza severity for Massachusetts is low this week.
  • The percent of influenza-like illness (ILI) visits in Massachusetts is 1.96%, which is comparable to the regional baseline of 2.0%.
  • The percent of hospitalizations associated with influenza is 0.57%, which is higher than last season, comparable to the 2019-2020 season, and lower than the 2018-2019 season.
  • Overall ILI activity is low, but increasing. The Central, Northeast, Southeast and West regions are reporting low ILI activity; Boston, Inner Metro Boston and Outer Metro Boston are reporting minimal ILI activity. 
  • Laboratory-confirmed influenza cases increased by 47% this week. More influenza A than influenza B positive specimens have been reported by hospitals and outpatient facilities in Massachusetts. A second peak of laboratory confirmed influenza A is presently occurring in Massachusetts, see Figure 5. For influenza A, the predominant strain is currently H3N2.
  • The number of influenza vaccine doses administered this flu season is comparable to last season in the same week. The vaccination rate for all ages is 48%. See figure 6 and 7 for vaccination data.
  • Nationally, influenza activity is highest in the central and south-central regions of the country and is increasing in the northeastern regions.
  • Additional statewide and national data including geographic spread, ILI activity, and pneumonia and influenza mortality are available at CDC’s FluView Weekly Report at www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly and FluView Interactive https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluviewinteractive.htm.
  • Statewide and national COVID data are available at

It’s not too late to get vaccinated. Flu vaccination is always the best way to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications.

Additional Resources

Date published: April 8, 2022

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