More pediatric deaths from Swine Flu, 31,320 hospitalizations in U.S.
U.S. map shows declining H1N1 activity.
ATLANTA – The proportion of deaths from pneumonia and Swine Flu continue to remain above the epidemic threshold in the U.S. with an additional 17 pediatric deaths reported to the Centers for Disease Control.
31,320 people have been hospitalized since Aug. 30 when the second wave struck. Since then, 1,336 people have died. Since the start of the pandemic to Aug. 30, the CDC reported 9,079 hospitalizations and 593 deaths. (CDC says the lab confirmed figures are a gross under-reporting of actual numbers.)
“The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report declined over the previous week, but continues to be higher than expected for this time of year. This is the ninth consecutive week that the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) has been above the epidemic threshold,” the CDC said in its latest weekly report which covers the period Nov. 22 to Nov. 28.
“In addition, 17 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week: 12 of these deaths were associated with laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1 and 5 were associated with influenza A viruses, but were not subtyped,” said the CDC, a finding that is consistent with the assertion that Swine Flu has impacted young people more than other age groups.
“Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 251 laboratory-confirmed pediatric deaths: 210 due to 2009 H1N1, 40 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but the flu virus subtype was not determined, and one pediatric death associated with a seasonal influenza virus,” it said. The unsubtyped flu is also thought to be H1N1.
The CDC also said that figures it issues based on laboratory counts are a gross underestimation of actual Swine Flu deaths and illness throughout the United States. CDC estimates upwards of 22 million have been infected and nearly 150,000 have been hospitalized from Swine Flu.
The latest report suggests sickness from Swine Flu is declining and the second wave of the disease is on the downswing.
For the fifth consecutive week, visits to doctor for influenza like illnes declined, but remain elevated across the country.
“Influenza hospitalization rates have decreased across all age groups but remain higher than expected for this time of year. Though declining, hospitalization rates continue to be highest in children 0-4 years old,” it said.
* Twenty-five states are reporting widespread influenza activity; a decline of 7 states from last week. They are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. Seventeen states are reporting regional influenza activity, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and six states reported local influenza activity, and Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and two states reported sporadic influenza activity.
* Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.
The agency said its lab confirmed numbers may not tell the whole story of the burden of disease caused by the H1N1 virus.
* CDC estimates that between 14 million and 34 million cases of 2009 H1N1 occurred between April and October 17, 2009. The mid-level in this range is about 22 million people infected with 2009 H1N1.
* CDC estimates that between about 63,000 and 153,000 2009 H1N1-related hospitalizations occurred between April and October 17, 2009. The mid-level in this range is about 98,000 H1N1-related hospitalizations.
* CDC estimates that between about 2,500 and 6,000 2009 H1N1-related deaths occurred between April and October 17, 2009. The mid-level in this range is about 3,900 2009 H1N1-related deaths.
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