CDC: U.S. influenza rates fall further

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ATLANTA, May 11 (UPI) -- U.S. influenza rates fell further last week in most of the country, but Alabama and Hawaii reported influenza-like illness, health officials said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that of the 2,118 specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System, 13.7 percent tested positive for influenza for the week ending May 5.

Two influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported -- one was associated with an influenza B virus and one was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was not determined.

The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness was 1.4 percent. New York City and 48 states experienced minimal influenza-like illness activity, the CDC said.

Seasonal influenza A (H3) viruses have predominated since the start of the 2011-2012 season nationally and in most regions, but 2009 H1N1 and influenza B viruses are still circulating, the report said.