Amid Pandemic, U.S. Flu Cases Remain At Unusually Low Levels

ACROSS AMERICA — As Americans continue to mask up and socially distance, these precautions are doing more than just curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of influenza cases reported nationwide remains at unseasonably low levels despite an overall increase in administered tests.

For the week ending Jan. 16, flu activity remains minimal in all states and U.S. territories. The only exception is Tennessee, where reported flu activity is low. At this time last year, flu activity was high in at least 33 states.

Also for the week ending Jan. 16, 21,244 tests were processed at clinical laboratories throughout the United States, according to the CDC. Of those, only 23 were positive for influenza. At public health labs, 14,937 tests were processed, and only three were positive for influenza.

So far this flu season, 1,351 tests have come back positive for influenza, according to CDC data.

Nationwide hospitalizations for influenza-like illnesses also remain low for the week ending Jan. 16. A total of 136 influenza-associated hospitalizations have been reported since Oct. 1. This puts the current hospitalization rate at 0.5 per 100,000 people, which is lower than average for this point in the season and comparable to the overall rate seen at this point during the 2011-12 season.

Perhaps the only alarming number on this week’s influenza report is the number of reported deaths. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 14.7 percent of deaths that occurred during the week ending Jan. 16 were attributed to pneumonia, influenza and COVID-19.

However, of the 2,799 deaths reported for that week, 1,774 had COVID-19 listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate, and only four listed influenza — indicating that the current increase in mortality is due primarily to COVID-19, according to the CDC.

So far this flu season, only one pediatric death has been reported. At this point last season, 39 children had died from influenza-like illnesses.

A year ago, the CDC had reported at least 13 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 6,600 deaths from the flu.

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
• Vomiting and diarrhea in some patients, though this is more common in children than adults.

The flu is a highly contagious illness, which is why the CDC urges everyone to take the following steps 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.