Weekly Flu Report, January 17, 2020

Massachusetts Department of Public Health weekly influenza update

Table of Contents

This week’s 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

Date published: January 17, 2020

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