Weekly Flu Report, January 17, 2020

Massachusetts Department of Public Health weekly influenza update

This week’s report

View the current weekly flu report.

Highlights

• Influenza severity for Massachusetts is moderate this week.
• The percentage of influenza-like illness visits for Massachusetts remains high and is higher than the previous two years in the same week.
• Overall influenza-like illness activity for Massachusetts is high this week. The Inner Metro Boston region is reporting moderate ILI activity while all other regions are reporting high ILI activity.
• The percent of influenza-associated hospitalizations in Massachusetts remains low and is lower than the previous two years in the same week.
• In the 2019-2020 flu season, more influenza B than influenza A positive specimens have been reported by hospitals and outpatient facilities in Massachusetts. However, in recent weeks, influenza A positive specimens have increased and account for about a third of the positive laboratory results reported so far this season.
• All influenza strains that have been characterized in Massachusetts this season to date are covered by the current influenza vaccine.
• Nationally, influenza-like illness activity remains elevated and influenza B is most common; however, during recent weeks approximately equal numbers of influenza B and influenza A have been reported.
• 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.

Flu activity remains elevated. 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

Weekly Flu Report, January 17, 2020 (Accessible)

Date published:	January 17, 2020