According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the week of September 27 – October 3, 2009, influenza activity increased and is at higher than expected levels for this time of the year based on the following recent key indicators:
- Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness continue to increase;
- Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed influenza are higher than expected for adults and children;
- The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza based on the 122 cities Report has increased and now exceeds what is normal for this time of the year; and
- 37 states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time.
