ATLANTA, April 12 (UPI) -- U.S. influenza activity decreased and 48 states and New York City experienced minimal activity for the week ending April 6, health officials said.
The weekly flu report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said of the 4,462 specimens tested and reported by collaborating laboratories, 10.9 percent tested positive for influenza.
Five influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported making the influenza-associated pediatric deaths at 116. One death associated with influenza A occurred the week ending Dec. 22, and four deaths were associated with influenza B viruses and occurred the weeks ending Jan. 26, Feb. 9, March 16 and April 6.
Thirty-four pediatric deaths were reported during the 2011-12 flu season, 122 in the 2010-11 flu season and 282 during the H1N1 2009-10 flu season.
Low influenza-like illness was reported in New Jersey and Virginia, while the 48 states and New York City experienced minimal influenza-like illness activity.
Widespread influenza activity -- more than 50 percent of a state reporting flu activity -- was reported by Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and North Carolina. Alaska, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania reported regional influenza activity.
Local influenza activity was reported by Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Twenty-four states reported sporadic influenza activity and Kansas reported no influenza activity.
