CDC flu report: 5 more children have died
Editor's note: An updated flu story is available at https://www.aappublications.org/news/2019/04/26/flu042619.
Five more children have died of flu, bringing the total to 91 as the season nears an end, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Across all ages, the CDC estimates as many as 41.3 million people have gotten sick, 610,000 have been hospitalized and 57,300 have died.
About 2.4% of outpatient clinic visits were for flu during the week ending April 13, down from 2.75% the week before, but still above the baseline of 2.2%, according to the CDC.
These rates have been above baseline for 21 weeks, while the past five seasons averaged 16. H1N1 viruses have been predominant for much of 2018-’19, but a late-season surge of H3N2 viruses contributed to the long season.
Flu is widespread in 11 states, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and Virginia. Only Rhode Island is experiencing high levels of activity.
The CDC and the Academy recommend everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu. Flu vaccine is 61% effective against medically attended influenza for children and 47% for the overall population, according to interim data from the CDC.
This season, inactivated influenza vaccine has been 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.However, theAAP recently announced that it will not have a preference between the two vaccines next season.
