Here are five things to know.
1. The CDC confirmed five additional pediatric flu deaths for the week, bringing the total amount of flu-associated pediatric deaths to 156 for the 2017-18 flu season.
2. The percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness in the week ending April 14 was 1.8 percent, which sits below the 2.2 percent national baseline. Only 1 of 10 U.S. regions reported outpatient flu activity above region-specific baselines for the week.
3. The overall flu-associated hospitalization rate was 103.7 per 100,000 population for the week ending April 14. The CDC tallied 29,629 laboratory-confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations from Oct. 1, 2017, through April 14, 2018.
4. The most frequently identified virus type in positive specimens this flu season has been influenza A, primarily attributable to high rates of infection with the H3N2 strain. However, influenza B infections have outpaced influenza A infections since early March. The agency confirmed 1,350 positive specimens for influenza B in the week ending April 14, compared to just 706 positive specimens for influenza A.
5. Five states reported widespread flu activity for the week. Guam, Puerto Rico and 16 states reported regional flu activity; 21 states reported local flu activity; Washington, D.C., and six states reported sporadic activity; and the U.S. Virgin Islands and two states reported no flu activity.
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