As U.S. flu activity slightly increases, four pediatric flu deaths were reported in the week ending Oct. 26, according to the CDC's most recent FluView report.
Five things to know:
1. Four pediatric flu deaths were reported to the CDC in the week ending Oct. 26 for a total of six pediatric flu deaths in the 2019-20 season.
2. The percentage of outpatient visits for flu-like illness was 1.9 percent for the week ending Oct. 26, remaining below the national baseline of 2.4 percent but increasing from 1.7 percent at the end of last week.
3. Nationally, flu activity is similar to recent previous seasons at the same time, but Louisiana and Puerto Rico both continue to experience high levels of flu-like-illness.
4. Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia experienced low flu activity. The remaining states, except for Louisiana, experienced minimal activity.
5. The CDC confirmed 141 positive respiratory specimens for influenza A and 287 positive specimens for influenza B in the week ending Oct. 26. The agency has confirmed 2,130 positive specimens since Sept. 29.