NEW YORK, Jan 27 (Reuters Health) -- US influenza cases appear to have
peaked in early- and mid-January, and may now be on the decline, according to a
report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
The CDC experts add that the 1999/2000 flu season packed a more deadly
punch than usual, with a peak weekly death rate "higher than any week during the
last two... seasons." The findings are published in the January 28th issue of
the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
According to agency statistics, all nine US reporting regions have now
recorded flu outbreaks. Visits to physicians for flu-like symptoms peaked at 6%
of all visits in the week ending January 1st, falling to 4% for the week ending
January 15th. Deaths linked to either influenza or pneumonia (a potential
complication of influenza) rose to 10.5% of all deaths recorded in the week
ending January 15th -- the highest rate in the past three flu seasons.
The CDC authors say this year's flu season peaked more than a month
earlier than the past two seasons; then rose to higher levels in terms of
hospitalizations and related deaths. Over 99% of all laboratory-confirmed cases
of flu were traced to the type A/Sydney viral strains, which have dominated flu
outbreaks over the past few years.
According to agency experts, this year's increase in deaths linked to
influenza may be due to increasing rates of infection, misdiagnosis (i.e.,
patients were infected with other respiratory viruses), and changes in the CDC's
own reporting criteria.
They stress that the flu season is not over, and those at special risk --
such as the elderly or immune-compromised -- can still benefit from a flu shot.
"Influenza vaccination remains the most important measure to protect persons
against influenza," they conclude.
