CDC: Influenza A H1N1 declining in U.S.

ATLANTA, July 10 (UPI) -- U.S. influenza A H1N1 activity decreased during the week of June 28-July 4, but there were local or regional outbreaks, health officials said Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta's weekly influenza report said 1,505, or 26 percent, of specimens tested by the World Health Organization and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System collaborating laboratories were positive for influenza.

The influenza surveillance systems indicate that overall influenza activity is decreasing in the United States, but novel H1N1 outbreaks are ongoing in different parts of the United States -- in some cases with intense influenza-like activity, the CDC report said.

More than 97 percent of all subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to the CDC were novel influenza A H1N1 viruses, also known as swine flu.

Five influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported and all five deaths were associated with novel influenza A H1N1 virus infection, the CDC report said.

Nine states reported geographically widespread influenza activity; 12 states and Puerto Rico reported regional influenza activity; 10 states and the District of Columbia reported local influenza activity; 18 states reported sporadic influenza activity, and one state did not report.

There were 37,246 confirmed and probable cases of influenza A H1N1 in U.S. states and territories and 211 deaths reported by the CDC as of Friday.