Weekly Flu Report, March 20, 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 has increased and remains higher than the previous two years in the same week. COVID-19 related activity, as well as increased healthcare-seeking behavior for respiratory illness, contributes to the increase in overall ILI trends in recent weeks.
• Overall influenza-like illness activity for Massachusetts remains high this week. All regions are reporting high ILI activity.
• The percent of influenza-associated hospitalizations in Massachusetts decreased compared to last week, but remains elevated.
• In the 2019-2020 flu season, more influenza B than influenza A positive specimens have been reported by hospitals and outpatient facilities in Massachusetts.
• The number of influenza positive laboratory tests reported to MDPH decreased this week by 22% compared to last week. The number of influenza A and influenza B positive laboratory tests reported to MDPH decreased by 21% and 24%, respectively, compared to last week.
• 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 A viruses are now the most commonly reported influenza viruses this season.
• 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.
• For the most up to date information on COVID-19 please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

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, March 20, 2020 (Accessible)

Date published:	March 20, 2020