FluView & its Impact on You

FluView & its Impact on You

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently released its week seven FluView. Although nationally the number of reported influenza cases has slightly decreased, statistics are still reflecting a higher-than-normal national average.

Included in the CDC’s report, is a five-criteria breakdown on how healthcare professionals measure the reach and impact of the flu. For your convenience, we’ve filtered through the pages-long report and summarized the most important information you need to know. See below for the CDC’s most recent update on the current state of the 2016-17 influenza.
As reflected in the graph below, each state is classified into one of five categories based on a week-by-week evaluation: no activity, sporadic, local activity, regional or widespread. Together, these categories are intended to provide a national overview of the current impact of the flu. Here are the qualifying explanations behind each of the five rankings:

  1. No Activity: No laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza and no reported increase in the number of cases.
  2. Sporadic: Small numbers of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases or a single laboratory-confirmed influenza outbreak has been reported, but there is no increase in cases.
  3. Local: Outbreaks of influenza or increases in cases and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza in a single region of the state.
  4. Regional: Outbreaks of influenza or increases in cases and recent laboratory confirmed influenza in at least two but less than half the regions of the state with recent laboratory evidence of influenza in those regions.
  5. Widespread: Outbreaks of influenza or increases in cases and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza in at least half the regions of the state with recent laboratory evidence of influenza in the state.

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Since October 1, 2016, a total of 9,444 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations have been reported. From a birdseye view, this translates to 33.7 hospitalizations per 100,000 people in the U.S. People are choosing to consult their primary care physician for flu-like symptoms at a higher rate than the national average for more than 10 weeks now. So although the worst of the 2016-17 flu season may be behind us, it’s still important to stay in-the-know and continue taking the steps necessary to prevent infection.

Check the CDC website for weekly health updates regarding the flu, as well as other forms of sickness.