Flu Spreads Further In MA, Nationwide

BOSTON — Only four states are free this week of widespread flu activity, and flu-related deaths more than doubled in the last two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday.

But the CDC said that despite the prevalence of the virus in most states, the number of confirmed influenza cases actually dropped during the first week of 2020. The percentage of virus specimens testing positive for influenza fell from 26.4 percent for the week ending Dec. 28 to 23.3 percent for the week ending Jan. 4.

But while flu activity remains high, officials said, the number of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths suggests we haven’t yet reached the peak of this year’s flu season.

In its latest weekly report, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said the incidence of "influenza-like activity," which is defined as fever above 100 degrees F in addition to cough and/or sore throat, has increased steadily in recent weeks, from 2 percent in its Dec. 28 report to 3.77 percent on Jan. 3 and more than 4 percent on Friday.

Hospitalizations for flu also increased, the department said, though they were not as high as at the same point in previous flu seasons.

The department did not provide numbers of actual flu cases.

So far this season, the CDC said Friday, the flu virus is responsible for at least 9.7 million illnesses nationwide, 87,000 hospitalizations and 4,800 deaths. In its Dec. 28 report, the CDC reported a total of 6.4 million illnesses, 55,000 hospitalizations and 2,100 deaths.

The latest data from the agency shows that the virus has been widespread in 50 states and territories, including Massachusetts. Only Washington, D.C., and Hawaii report that flu activity is strictly local. The geographic spread of flu activity does not measure the severity of the virus.

The groups most at risk of the flu are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions, according to the CDC.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (though not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

The flu is a highly contagious illness, which is why the CDC urges everyone to do the following things to protect themselves and others:

• Take time to get a flu shot: While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the viruses that research suggests will be most common. The CDC says it’s not too late to get this year’s vaccine.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you are sick with flu symptoms, you should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs such as the flu.
• Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.