Five things to know:
1. The percentage of outpatient visits for flu-like illness was 1.7 percent for the week ending Oct. 19. This figure marks a slight increase from a week prior but remains below the national baseline of 2.4 percent.
2. The CDC confirmed 126 positive respiratory specimens for influenza A and 269 positive specimens for influenza B in the week ending Oct. 19. The agency has confirmed 1,613 positive specimens since Sep. 29.
3. Louisiana and Puerto Rico experienced high flu-like illness activity for the week ending Oct. 19. Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii and Missouri experienced low activity. The remaining states experienced minimal activity.
4. The first two pediatric flu deaths of the season were reported to the CDC in the week ending Oct. 19.
5. Maryland reported widespread flu activity, and Louisiana reported regional flu activity for the week. Six other states reported local flu activity and forty states reported sporadic activity. Rhode Island reported no flu activity for the week, and Nevada did not report data.
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