Flu is spreading unusually early across the western U.S., with some hospitals reporting activity levels typically seen in early winter, The Washington Post reported Oct. 4.
About 150 children tested positive for influenza across the Seattle Children’s system in the past two weeks, up from about 10 during the same period last fall and a level not typically seen until early December, according to the report.
“We’re about two months early,” Danielle Zerr, MD, head of pediatric infectious diseases at Seattle Children’s, told the Post. “The way flu is circulating now, you wanted that vaccine in you two weeks ago, if not even a little before that.”
Southern Nevada health officials reported the region’s first flu death of the season last week in a man in his 50s with underlying conditions. Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Washington are also seeing sharp jumps in the share of flu tests coming back positive, according to the report.
H1N1 has predominated in early Washington surveillance this season after H3N2 dominated last season, which may mean people have less recent immunity against H1N1, Helen Chu, MD, an infectious diseases professor at the University of Washington, told the Post.
Flu activity remains low nationally but is rising. During the week ending Sept. 26, 3.4% of clinical lab specimens tested positive for flu, according to the CDC’s latest FluView report, published Oct. 2. Hospitals reported 2,572 lab-confirmed flu admissions that week, with the highest rate among adults 65 and older. The CDC estimates infections are growing or likely growing in 48 states as of Sept. 30.
The CDC has not launched a broad public flu vaccination campaign this fall. An HHS spokesperson said in a statement to the Post that the CDC is developing a communications strategy on flu vaccination.
The CDC expects a moderate season overall but said there is considerable uncertainty this early.
