Age-Specific Patterns of Influenza Activity in Utah: Do Older School Age Children Drive the Epidemic?

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014 Jun;3(2):163-7. doi: 10.1093/jpids/pit004. Epub 2013 Feb 14.

Abstract

Across 12 consecutive influenza seasons in Utah, medically-attended visits for laboratory-confirmed influenza infection peaked first among older children (12-18 years). Peak activity in older children preceded that of children 0-4 years by more than 2 days and that of peak activity among adults ≥65 years by more than 6 days.

Keywords: age groups; disease transmission; epidemiology; infectious; influenza vaccines; population surveillance; timeliness; vaccination.