2nd surge of flu activity is expected for parts of the US
By
John Roach, AccuWeather staff writer
Updated Aug 7, 2020 2:18 PM EDT
Kilian Daugherty gets his nose cavity swabbed for the flu as his sister Madison, left, waits to be examined as well for flu symptoms. (AP File Photo/David Goldman)
This year’s flu season in the United States is definitely not one size fits all. While the entire country is “experiencing active transmission” of the flu – with many states at record high levels, according to flu experts – the strain of the flu and the forecast for what’s ahead vary by region and even by state.
Some 18 states are at the highest level in the last decade for a comparable week historically, including geographically disparate states like New York, North Dakota, Georgia and Alaska.
“Increases in influenza activity were mainly experienced by states in the North where the infections have been more predominated by one type and are now in the midst of shifting toward the other – mostly Influenza B,” Dr. Bryan Lewis, a professor at the Biocomplexity Institute at the University of Virginia, told AccuWeather. Lewis works with a team in a research partnership with AccuWeather.
Despite a dip in flu cases reported over the holidays, medical experts believe a second surge of influenza activity could happen in the next few weeks.
Overall, however, after weeks of increasing flu activity, most states experienced a dip in activity as reflected in the most recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Visits to health care providers for influenza-like illnesses (ILI) decreased from 7 percent last week to 5.8 percent this week, ending three straight weeks of increasing visits. While flu activity remains high – and above the national baseline of 2.4 percent – CDC indicators that track severity (hospitalizations and deaths) are not high at this point in the season, the CDC notes.
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The lack of high severity is likely due to the predominance of Influenza B/Victoria and Influenza A(H1N1), which are more likely to affect children and younger adults than the elderly and subsequently result in fewer hospitalizations and deaths, according to the CDC.
The CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 9.7 million flu illnesses, 87,000 hospitalizations and 4,800 deaths from the flu in the U.S. It’s the eighth straight week flu activity is above baseline normal; last year, levels of ILI in the U.S. were at or above baseline for 21 straight weeks.
“Influenza A and B remain very active throughout the nation,” Lewis told AccuWeather, “and states that have experienced a strong peak from only one can expect a second surge in activity that may lead to a second peak.”
Following an active flu season during winter of 2018-2019, flu cases are on the rise across the United States this season, with a second wave of infections expected across many states. (University of Virginia)
However, Lewis and his team note that some states may be entering the final weeks of active transmission, having already experienced both A and B waves with now declining activity. Those areas include states centered from Texas to North Carolina.
Flu season typically begins in October, peaks between December and February and lasts well into March although activity can last as late as May. Flu viruses are more stable in cold air and the low humidity allows the virus particles to remain in the air, according to Peter Palese, who was the lead author on a key flu study in 2007. For example, there is no real flu season in the tropics.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Health
2nd surge of flu activity is expected for parts of the US
By John Roach, AccuWeather staff writer
Updated Aug 7, 2020 2:18 PM EDT
Kilian Daugherty gets his nose cavity swabbed for the flu as his sister Madison, left, waits to be examined as well for flu symptoms. (AP File Photo/David Goldman)
This year’s flu season in the United States is definitely not one size fits all. While the entire country is “experiencing active transmission” of the flu – with many states at record high levels, according to flu experts – the strain of the flu and the forecast for what’s ahead vary by region and even by state.
Some 18 states are at the highest level in the last decade for a comparable week historically, including geographically disparate states like New York, North Dakota, Georgia and Alaska.
“Increases in influenza activity were mainly experienced by states in the North where the infections have been more predominated by one type and are now in the midst of shifting toward the other – mostly Influenza B,” Dr. Bryan Lewis, a professor at the Biocomplexity Institute at the University of Virginia, told AccuWeather. Lewis works with a team in a research partnership with AccuWeather.
Despite a dip in flu cases reported over the holidays, medical experts believe a second surge of influenza activity could happen in the next few weeks.
Overall, however, after weeks of increasing flu activity, most states experienced a dip in activity as reflected in the most recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Visits to health care providers for influenza-like illnesses (ILI) decreased from 7 percent last week to 5.8 percent this week, ending three straight weeks of increasing visits. While flu activity remains high – and above the national baseline of 2.4 percent – CDC indicators that track severity (hospitalizations and deaths) are not high at this point in the season, the CDC notes.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
The lack of high severity is likely due to the predominance of Influenza B/Victoria and Influenza A(H1N1), which are more likely to affect children and younger adults than the elderly and subsequently result in fewer hospitalizations and deaths, according to the CDC.
The CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 9.7 million flu illnesses, 87,000 hospitalizations and 4,800 deaths from the flu in the U.S. It’s the eighth straight week flu activity is above baseline normal; last year, levels of ILI in the U.S. were at or above baseline for 21 straight weeks.
“Influenza A and B remain very active throughout the nation,” Lewis told AccuWeather, “and states that have experienced a strong peak from only one can expect a second surge in activity that may lead to a second peak.”
Following an active flu season during winter of 2018-2019, flu cases are on the rise across the United States this season, with a second wave of infections expected across many states. (University of Virginia)
However, Lewis and his team note that some states may be entering the final weeks of active transmission, having already experienced both A and B waves with now declining activity. Those areas include states centered from Texas to North Carolina.
Flu season typically begins in October, peaks between December and February and lasts well into March although activity can last as late as May. Flu viruses are more stable in cold air and the low humidity allows the virus particles to remain in the air, according to Peter Palese, who was the lead author on a key flu study in 2007. For example, there is no real flu season in the tropics.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo