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Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update

Week ending December 14, 2002-Week 50

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The following information may be quoted:

Synopsis:

During week 50 (December 8-14, 2002)*, 30 (3,2 %) of the specimens tested by World Health Organization (WHO) laboratories were positive for influenza. The proportion of patient visits to sentinel providers for influenza-like illness (ILI) overall was 1,3 %, which is less than the national baseline of 1,9 %. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was 6,6 %. One state and territorial health department reported widespread influenza activity, 3 reported regional activity, 23 reported sporadic activity, and 23 reported no influenza activity**.

Laboratory Surveillance*:

During week 50, WHO laboratories reported 929 specimens tested for influenza viruses, of which 30 (3,2 %) were positive. Three influenza A (H1)† viruses and 27 influenza B viruses were identified. Data from the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) laboratories for week 50 were not available at the time this report was written; therefore, numbers may change substantially next week.

Since September 29, WHO and NREVSS laboratories have tested a total of 15 429 specimens for influenza viruses and 113 (0,7 %) were positive. Of the 113 viruses identified, 33 (29 %) were influenza A viruses and 80 (71 %) were influenza B viruses. Fifteen (45 %) of the 33 influenza A viruses have been subtyped; 13 were influenza A (H1)† viruses and 2 were influenza A (H3N2) viruses. Seventeen states have reported laboratory-confirmed influenza. Influenza A viruses have been identified in California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Influenza B viruses have been identified in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. Of the 113 viruses reported, 70 (62 %) were identified in the West South Central region*** and 31 (27 %) were identified in the South Atlantic region***.

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Antigenic Characterization of Viral Isolates:

CDC has antigenically characterized 24 influenza viruses submitted by U.S. laboratories since September 29: seventeen influenza B viruses, two influenza A (H3N2) viruses, and 5 influenza A (H1)† viruses. Four of the influenza A (H1) viruses contained the N1 neuraminidase and one contained the N2 neuraminidase. The influenza B viruses, the A (H3N2) viruses, and the hemagglutinin protein of the A (H1) viruses were similar antigenically to the corresponding vaccine strains B/Hong Kong/330/01, A/Panama/2007/99 (H3N2), and A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1), respectively.

Click here for more information about influenza A (H1N2) viruses

Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance:

During week 50, the percentage of all deaths due to pneumonia and influenza as reported by the vital statistics offices of 122 U.S. cities was 6,6 %. This percentage is below the epidemic threshold of 7,7 % for week 50.

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Influenza-like Illness Surveillance *:

During week 50, 1,3 % of patient visits to U.S. sentinel providers were due to ILI. This percentage is less than the national baseline of 1,9 %. On a regional level***, the percentage of visits for ILI ranged from 0,5 % to 2,3 %. Due to wide variability in regional level data, it is not appropriate to apply the national baseline to regional level data.

Influenza Activity as Assessed by State and Territorial Epidemiologists**:

Influenza activity was reported as widespread in Texas and regional in 3 states (Arkansas, Kansas, and Louisiana). Twenty-three states and New York City reported sporadic influenza activity, and 23 states reported no influenza activity.

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* Reporting is incomplete for this week. Numbers may change as more reports are received.

** Influenza activity is defined as influenza-like illness and/or culture-confirmed influenza.

†Includes both the A (H1N1) and A (H1N2) influenza virus subtypes. The influenza A (H1N2) strain appears to have resulted from the reassortment of the genes of currently circulating influenza A (H1N1) and A (H3N2) subtypes. Because the hemagglutinin proteins of the A (H1N2) viruses are similar to those of the currently circulating A (H1N1) viruses and the neuraminidase proteins are similar to those of the currently circulating A (H3N2) viruses, the 2002-03 influenza vaccine should provide protection against A (H1N2) viruses.

*** Surveillance Regions: New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island); Mid-Atlantic (New Jersey, New York City, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York); East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin); West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota); South Atlantic (Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia); East South Central (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee); West South Central (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas); Mountain (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming); Pacific (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington)

Report prepared December 18, 2002

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