CDC: Flu activity low in first week of season

The 2016-17 flu season officially started Oct. 2, and according to the CDC’s first FluView report, the season is off to a slow start.

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So far, 13 states and Washington, D.C., reported no flu activity for the week of Oct. 2, and 36 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported sporadic activity. However, Guam had widespread geographic spread of the flu, and New Hampshire and Puerto Rico reported local activity.

The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness was low (1.1 percent), which is below the national baseline of 2.2 percent.

Influenza A is the most frequently identified flu virus type reported by public health labs in the first week of the season.

The CDC has urged all Americans who are over 6 months old to get vaccinated against the flu before Oct. 31. Tom Frieden, MD, director of the CDC, previously said public health officials “anticipate it will be a good match” for the strain of flu circulating this season.

More articles on the flu:
6 things to know about 2016 flu vaccines — efficacy, supply and more
High-dose inactivated flu vaccine can help cut costs & improve outcomes for seniors, study finds
Children who receive alternative medicine therapies less likely to get flu shot

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