Pneumonia Led PIC Fatalities Last Week

The U.S. CDC's latest Influenza Surveillance Report indicates pneumonia continues to outpace both COVID-19 and influenza (PIC) as the respiratory disease causing the most fatalities.

On May 19, 2022, the National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Surveillance data shows among the 1,409 PIC deaths reported last week, 790 listed pneumonia as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate, 592 had COVID-19, and 27 listed influenza.

And as of May 20, 2022, there have been (24) influenza-related pediatric fatalities confirmed during the 2021-2022 flu season.

Last flu season, the CDC confirmed just (1) flu-related pediatric fatality.

Routine administration of all age-appropriate doses of vaccines simultaneously is recommended for children for whom no specific contraindications exist at the time of the visit, says the CDC.

The CDC also reported that most influenza viruses detected during week #18 are A(H3N2), which are genetically related to the current flu shot virus.

Additionally, the CDC says 'individuals can get COVID-19 and flu vaccinations simultaneously.'

From an international perspective, the European CDC reported on May 20, 2022, three countries reported very high seasonal activity: Finland (50%), Slovakia (38%), and the Netherlands (31%).

This is important news since flu shots remain available at most pharmacies in the USA.

Note: This information was manually curated for mobile readers.