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CDC: U.S. influenza activity low, but NYC flu activity remains high

Forty-four percent of the influenza-positive tests reported to CDC were influenza A viruses, and 56 percent were influenza B viruses.

By Alex Cukan
Most U.S. states reported minimal influenza activity, but New York City remained high for flu activity. (File/UPI/John Angelillo)
Most U.S. states reported minimal influenza activity, but New York City remained high for flu activity. (File/UPI/John Angelillo) | License Photo

ATLANTA, April 11 (UPI) -- For the week ending April 5, most U.S. states reported minimal influenza activity, but New York City flu activity remained high.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weekly flu report said upstate New York experienced moderate influenza-like illness. The previous week, New Jersey and Texas reported moderate flu activity.

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Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey and Texas experienced low influenza-like illness activity. Forty-three states experienced minimal low influenza-like illness activity. One state did not report.

Nationally, the percentage of respiratory specimens that tested positive for influenza viruses in the United States increased slightly to 13.4 percent from the previous week's 12.5 percent.

Forty-four percent of the influenza-positive tests reported to CDC were influenza A viruses, and 56 percent were influenza B viruses, known as the "spring flu" because it tends to appear after the dominant flu wanes.

Widespread influenza activity -- more than half of the state reported flu activity -- was reported by Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. Regional influenza activity was reported by Maine, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Rhode Island.

Local influenza activity was reported by Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia. Sporadic influenza activity was reported by 25 states, while Mississippi reported no influenza activity.

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Three influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to the CDC during the week ending April 5. A total of 85 influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported for the 2013/2014 flu season so far.

[CDC]

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