Feb. 26, 2024 -- Influenza levels remain elevated in the U.S., while COVID-19 levels keep declining, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last Friday in weekly updates.
“Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationally with increases in some parts of the country, particularly” the Northeast, New England, the Middle Atlantic, the Midwest, and the Central states, the CDC said, citing data collected through Feb. 17.
The data showed that positive clinical test results dropped 14.8% during that period while the percentage of outpatient visits for flulike illness held steady at 4.5%. However, positive rest results increased in some sections of the country.
During the week ending Feb. 17, 71.7% of the viruses reported by public health labs were influenza A, and 28.3% were influenza B.
Since the flu season began Oct. 1, there have been at least 25 million flu illnesses, 11 million flu medical visits, 280,000 flu hospitalizations, and 17,000 deaths, the CDC said. Nine pediatric flu deaths were reported for the week ending Feb. 17. There have been 91 deaths during the 2023-24 flu season.
In an update on COVID, the CDC said positive tests results went down 1.3% from the previous week. Hospitalizations dropped 5.7%, emergency room visits went down 12.4%, and deaths dropped 11.1%. However, seniors and children under 12 months remain hospitalized at high levels.
Since the pandemic began about four years ago, there have been 6,834,006 COVID-related hospitalizations and 1,180,042 COVID-related deaths.