CDC: Regional H1N1 in five states

ATLANTA, March 12 (UPI) -- Five states reported regional H1N1 influenza activity, and Puerto Rico and six states reported local influenza activity, U.S. health officials said Friday.

The weekly flu surveillance report -- completed during flu season by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- said for the week ending March 6 H1N1 influenza activity remained at approximately the same levels as last week.

The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness was 1.9 percent, which is below the national baseline of 2.3 percent. However, three of 10 regions reported influenza-like illness at or above region-specific baseline levels.

No states reported widespread influenza activity, but regional influenza activity was reported by Alabama, Georgia, Maine, Mississippi and South Carolina. Local influenza activity was reported by Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

Sporadic influenza activity was reported by Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.