ATLANTA, March 31 (UPI) -- U.S. influenza activity was elevated in some areas, remained relatively low nationally and was minimal in other regions, federal health officials said.
A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found of the 4,624 specimens tested by World Health Organization and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System found 19.6 percent were positive for influenza for the week ending March 24.
The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was below the epidemic threshold, but four influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported. The flu season's total of influenza-associated pediatric deaths totals 12, compared with 122 in last year's flu season.
The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness was 2 percent overall, down from 2.4 percent last week.
Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin and Region 10: Arkansas, Idaho, Oregon and Washington reported elevated influenza-like illness.
Three states experienced moderate influenza-like illness; six states experienced low influenza-like activity; New York City and 41 states experienced minimal influenza-like activity and the District of Columbia had insufficient data to calculate flu activity.
