CDC flu report: 7 more children have died
Editor's note:An updated flu story is available at https://www.aappublications.org/news/2019/03/01/flu030119.
Seven more children have died of flu, bringing the total to 41, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The children are among roughly 13,600 to 22,300 flu-related deaths across the general population.
Flu is widespread in 48 states with West Virginia and Hawaii being the exceptions. The CDC estimates as many as 20.4 million people have gotten sick.
The proportion of outpatient clinic visits for flu continues to rise. The rate reached 5.1% during the week ending Feb. 16, up from 4.8%.
As many as 256,000 people have been hospitalized, a rate of 27.4 per 100,000 people, according to the CDC.
Young children are among the hardest hit with a hospitalization rate of 40.2 per 100,000. About 43% of hospitalized children for whom data were available had an underlying medical condition, most commonly asthma.
Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 has been predominant for most of the country this season, although H3N2 made up 47% of influenza A viruses tested last week.
The CDC and the Academy recommend everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu. Flu vaccine is 61% effective for children and 47% for the overall population, according to interim data from the CDC.
Inactivated influenza vaccine is the primary vaccine choice, while quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine may be used for children who would not otherwise receive a vaccine, according to AAP policy.
