Weekly Flu Report, March 27, 2020

Massachusetts Department of Public Health weekly influenza update

This week's report

View the weekly flu report.

Highlights

• Influenza severity for Massachusetts has decreased from moderate to low this week as influenza-related hospitalizations and influenza positive test results have decreased.
• 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.
• 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 65% compared to last week. The number of influenza A and influenza B positive laboratory tests reported to MDPH decreased by 67% and 62%, 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, the percent of laboratory specimens testing positive for influenza at clinical laboratories continued to decrease while influenza-like illness activity continued to increase as more people are seeking care for respiratory illness due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 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 https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/index.html and FluView Interactive https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/overview/fluview-interactive.html.
• 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.

Date published:	March 27, 2020