10 states report widespread flu activity: 6 updates

Mackenzie Bean -

Flu activity continues to increase in the U.S., with 10 states reporting widespread activity for the week ending Nov. 23, according to the CDC's most recent FluView report.

Six things to know:

1. The percentage of outpatient visits for flu-like illness was 2.9 percent for the week ending Nov. 23, up from 2.5 percent a week prior. This figure surpasses the national baseline of 2.4 percent.

2. About 8 percent of respiratory specimens tested positive for flu in clinical laboratories nationwide for the week ending Nov. 23. The agency has confirmed 7,361 positive specimens since Sept. 29.

3. Seven states experienced high flu-like illness activity for the week ending Nov. 23. Another seven states experienced moderate activity, eight states reported low activity and 28 states experienced minimal activity.

4. One new pediatric flu death was reported to the CDC in the week ending Nov. 23. Five pediatric deaths have occurred during the 2019-20 flu season.

5. Ten states reported widespread flu activity, and 14 reported regional flu activity for the week ending Nov. 23. Nineteen states reported local flu activity, while seven states reported sporadic activity.

6. The overall flu-associated hospitalization rate stayed at 2.0 per 100,000 people for the week ending Nov. 23. The CDC has confirmed 573 flu-associated hospitalizations since Oct. 1.

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