Weekly Influenza News

CDC & WHO Flu News for February 22, 2019

41 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been confirmed during 2019
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(Precision Vaccinations News)

According to new reports from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO), the current flu season is far from over. 

Specifically, the CDC estimated the October 2018 through February 16, 2019 flu season’s impact as follows: 

  • 17,700,000 – 20,400,000 symptomatic illnesses
  • 8,200,000 – 9,600,000 medical visits
  • 214,000 – 256,000 hospitalizations
  • 13,610 - 22,300 flu-related deaths

And most, unfortunately, a total of 41 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported to the CDC during the 2018-2019 season. Seven of these pediatric deaths were reported during week #7.

Additionally, the CDC reported on February 14, 2019, the interim estimates for the 2018–19 flu season Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) for all ages against medically attended respiratory virus infection caused by A(H1N1) virus infection, was 46 percent. 

And, the VE against illness due to influenza A(H3N2) was 44 percent. 

Separately, the CDC reported the key influenza indicators for the week ending February 16, 2019, are as follows:

  • While influenza A(H1N1) viruses predominated in most areas of the country, influenza A(H3) viruses have predominated in HHS Region 4 and accounted for 47% of subtyped influenza A viruses detected nationally during week 7.
  • During the most recent three weeks, influenza A(H3) viruses were reported more frequently than influenza A(H1N1) viruses in HHS Regions 6 and 7 and influenza A(H1N1) and influenza A(H3) viruses were reported in approximately equal numbers in HHS Region 2.
  • The majority of influenza viruses characterized antigenically are similar to the cell-grown reference viruses representing the 2018–2019 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine viruses.
  • The vast majority of influenza viruses tested (>99%) show susceptibility to oseltamivir and peramivir. All influenza viruses tested showed susceptibility to zanamivir.
  • The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) increased to 5.1%, which is above the national baseline of 2.2%. All 10 regions reported ILI at or above their region-specific baseline level.
  • New York City and 30 states experienced high ILI activity; the District of Columbia and 11 states experienced moderate ILI activity; six states experienced low ILI activity; the U.S. Virgin Islands and three states experienced minimal ILI activity, and Puerto Rico had insufficient data.
  • The geographic spread of influenza in Puerto Rico and 48 states was reported as widespread; one state reported regional activity; the District of Columbia reported local activity; the U.S. Virgin Islands and one state reported sporadic activity, and Guam did not report.
  • A cumulative rate of 27.4 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100,000 population was reported. The highest hospitalization rate is among adults 65 years and older (75.6 hospitalizations per 100,000 population).
  • The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was below the system-specific epidemic threshold in the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance System.

Around The World:

The World Health Organization (WHO) / Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) conclude the 2018-19 influenza season in Europe was characterized by both influenza A virus subtypes.

In Europe, there is co-circulation in some countries, with others reporting dominance of either A(H1N1) or A(H3N2) viruses. 

And, Europe’s data shows that protection against the influenza A virus has ranged between 32 percent and 43 percent across all patients seen at clinics and hospitals; and was 59 percent in groups targeted for vaccination, according to findings from 6 European studies published on February 21, 2019.   

The PAHO published the following updates on February 19, 2019:

  • Caribbean: Influenza virus activity slightly increased in some countries and lower RSV activity was reported throughout most of the sub-region. In Jamaica, influenza detection increased with influenza A circulating. ILI consultations increased in some French Territories.
  • Central America: Epidemiological indicators remained at moderate levels and influenza activity was low throughout the sub-region with influenza A(H1N1) and B co-circulating. In Guatemala, influenza activity continues to increase with influenza A (H1N1) and influenza A (H3N2) co-circulating. Overall, RSV activity decreased; while in Costa Rica and Guatemala, RSV circulation continued elevated.
  • Andean Region: Continue influenza activity decreasing in the sub-region with influenza A(H3N2) predominance and moderate SARI activity. In Peru ARI and pneumonia cases increased among those aged less than 5 years.
  • Brazil and Southern Cone: Influenza activity was low throughout the sub-region with influenza A predominance. Brazil and Chile, influenza-associated SARI and ILI cases decreased associated with influenza A (H1N1) detections. RSV activity remained low in the subregion.

Additionally, the WHO's flu vaccine advisory group recommended on February 20, 2019, to include the Northern Hemisphere's 2019-20 vaccines and recommended changing the 2009 H1N1 component, but decided to wait one month before finalizing a recommendation on the H3N2 strain. 

The WHO recommendations for the 2019-2020 Northern Hemisphere flu season are as follows:

  • It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines contain the following: - an A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus; - an A(H3N2) virus to be announced on 21 March 2019*; - a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage); and - a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage).
  • It is recommended that the influenza B virus component of trivalent vaccines be a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus of the B/Victoria/2/87-lineage.
  • In light of recent changes in the proportions of genetically and antigenically diverse A(H3N2) viruses, the recommendation for the A(H3N2) component has been postponed.

The WHO’s lists of egg or cell culture-propagated candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs) suitable for use in human vaccine production are available on the WHO website.

Both the CDC and WHO continue to recommend vaccinations while influenza viruses are circulating the world.

In the USA, antiviral medications and various flu vaccines are available in most pharmacies.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides private sector vaccine prices for general information. And, flu vaccine discounts can be found here.         

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. Vaccine patients are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the CDC.

 

Our Trust Standards: Medical Advisory Committee

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