Key Points Summary
- Current Influenza Activity: Seasonal influenza remains elevated and is increasing across the U.S. with 31.6% of clinical lab tests positive for influenza.
- Predominant Viruses: Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) are the most reported viruses of the week.
- Illness Statistics: Outpatient respiratory illness visits account for 7.8% of healthcare provider visits, which is above the baseline.
- Hospitalization and Mortality: The cumulative hospitalization rate is 64.0 per 100,000, with 48,661 hospital admissions this week. Influenza accounts for 2.0% of deaths, totaling 57 pediatric deaths this season.
- Estimates: CDC estimates 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths from flu this season.
- Vaccination Advice: A flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. Prescription antiviral drugs are available and should be initiated early for higher-risk patients.
- Additional Context: Ongoing transmission is human-to-human, and various viruses are contributing to respiratory disease activity, including COVID-19 and RSV.
Executive Summary
The CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report for Week 5 (ending February 1, 2025) highlights a continuing increase in seasonal influenza activity nationwide. The report indicates high rates of illness and hospitalization due to influenza, with specific concerns regarding pediatric deaths and the predominance of certain influenza strains. Vaccination is strongly recommended, and antiviral treatments are advised, particularly for at-risk populations. The CDC continues to track and report on the broader respiratory disease landscape that includes influenza, COVID-19, and RSV.
12ft.io Link: https://12ft.io/https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2025-week-05.html
Archive.org Link: Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates for Week 5, ending February 1, 2025 | FluView | CDC
Original Link: https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2025-week-05.html
User Message: On a side note, wearing masks and washing hands from a medical perspective…
Transmission is still human to human…
Current Week: U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report
U.S. Influenza Surveillance: Purpose and Methods
Weekly US Influenza Surveillance
Report: Key Updates for Week 5, ending February 1, 2025
What to know
Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated and continues to increase across the country.
Summary
Viruses
Clinical Lab
31.6% (Trend Increasing)
positive for influenza
this week.
Public Health Lab
Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2)
were the predominant viruses reported this week.
Illness
Outpatient Respiratory Illness
7.8% (Trend Increasing)
of visits to a health care provider this
week were for respiratory illness
(above baseline).
Activity Map
2 moderate jurisdictions
45 high or very high jurisdictions
FluSurv-NET
64.0 per 100,000
cumulative hospitalization rate
National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Hospital Respiratory Data
48,661 (Trend Increasing)
patients admitted to hospitals
with influenza this week.
NCHS Mortality
2.0% (Trend Increasing)
of deaths attributed to influenza this week.
Pediatric Deaths
10 influenza-associated deaths
were reported this week for
a total of 57 deaths this season.
All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.
Directional arrows indicate changes between the current week and the previous week. Additional information on the arrows can be found at the bottom of this page.
A description of the CDC influenza surveillance system, including methodology and detailed descriptions of each data component is available on the surveillance methods page.1
Additional information on the current and previous influenza seasons for each surveillance component are available on FluView Interactive.
Key Points
• Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated and continues to increase across the country.
• During Week 5, of the 4,377 viruses reported by public health laboratories, 4,264 were influenza A and 113 were influenza B. Of the 3,458 influenza A viruses subtyped during Week 5, 1,857 (53.7%) were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 1,601 (46.3%) were A(H3N2), and 0 were A(H5).
• Outpatient respiratory illness is increasing and remains above baseline nationally for the tenth consecutive week. All 10 HHS regions are above their region-specific baseline.
• One human infection with an influenza A(H1N2) variant (A(H1N2)v) virus was reported.
• No new influenza A(H5) cases were reported to CDC this week. To date, human-to-human transmission of influenza A(H5) virus has not been identified in the United States.
• Ten pediatric deaths associated with seasonal influenza virus infection were reported this week, bringing the 2024-2025 season total to 57 pediatric deaths.
• CDC estimates that there have been at least 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths from flu so far this season.
• CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get an annual influenza (flu) vaccine.1
• There are prescription flu antiviral drugs that can treat flu illness; those should be started as early as possible and are especially important for patients at higher risk for severe illness.2
• Influenza viruses are among several viruses contributing to respiratory disease activity. CDC is providing updated, integrated information about COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity on a weekly basis.
for more on see the post on bypassing methods