Update: Influenza activity--United States, September 28, 2014-February 21, 2015

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015 Mar 6;64(8):206-12.

Abstract

Influenza activity in the United States began to increase in mid-November, remained elevated through February 21, 2015, and is expected to continue for several more weeks. To date, influenza A (H3N2) viruses have predominated overall. As has been observed in previous seasons during which influenza A (H3N2) viruses predominated, adults aged ≥65 years have been most severely affected. The cumulative laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalization rate among adults aged ≥65 years is the highest recorded since this type of surveillance began in 2005. This age group also accounts for the majority of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza. The majority of circulating influenza A (H3N2) viruses are different from the influenza A (H3N2) component of the 2014-15 Northern Hemisphere seasonal vaccines, and the predominance of these antigenically and genetically drifted viruses has resulted in reduced vaccine effectiveness. This report summarizes U.S. influenza activity* since September 28, 2014, and updates the previous summary.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Cause of Death
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Comorbidity
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Mortality / trends
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / genetics
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / immunology
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / isolation & purification
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / classification
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / genetics
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / immunology
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / isolation & purification
  • Influenza B virus / classification
  • Influenza B virus / genetics
  • Influenza B virus / immunology
  • Influenza B virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Influenza, Human / chemically induced*
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outpatients / statistics & numerical data
  • Pneumonia / epidemiology
  • Population Surveillance
  • Pregnancy
  • Seasons
  • Survival Rate
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines