Weekly Flu Report, February 15, 2019

Massachusetts Department of Public Health weekly influenza update

This week's report

View the current weekly flu report.

Highlights

Highlights from this week's report:

• There is still time to get a flu shot to ensure you are protected as flu activity continues.
  • To find a flu shot near you, call your health care provider, visit a local pharmacy, or search for flu vaccination locations at vaccines.gov
• Influenza-like illness activity in Massachusetts remains high this week and is consistent with activity levels normally seen at this time of year
• Geographic spread is widespread: ILI activity and influenza laboratory confirmations are increased in all regions of the state.
• Influenza-associated hospitalizations in Massachusetts remain elevated this week and are consistent with activity levels normally seen at this time of year.
• The number of influenza positive laboratory tests reported to MDPH increased this week by 19.8%
• For the 2018-2019 season to date, the predominant influenza strain is A/2009 H1N1; this may fluctuate as the season continues.
• All influenza strains that have been characterized in Massachusetts this season to date are covered by the current influenza vaccine.
• No resistance to antiviral medications has been detected this season.
• Nationally, flu activity remains high, consistent with normal levels of activity at this time of year.
• Additional statewide and national data including geographic spread, ILI activity, and pneumonia and influenza mortality are available at CDC’s FluView Weekly Report at https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/index.html and FluView Interactive https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/overview/fluview-interactive.html.
• Statewide and national COVID data are available at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting and https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home

Date published:	February 15, 2019