Synopsis: During week 17 (April 20-26, 2014), influenza activity continued to decrease in the United States.

o ViralSurveillance:Of4,031specimenstestedandreportedduringweek17byU.S.World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories, 500 (12.4%) were positive for influenza.

o PneumoniaandInfluenzaMortality:Theproportionofdeathsattributedtopneumoniaand influenza (P&I) was below the epidemic threshold.

o Influenza-associatedPediatricDeaths:Twoinfluenza-associatedpediatricdeathswere reported.

o Influenza-associatedHospitalizations:Aseason-cumulativerateof34.9laboratory- confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100,000 population was reported.

o OutpatientIllnessSurveillance:Theproportionofoutpatientvisitsforinfluenza-likeillness (ILI) was 1.5%, which is below the national baseline of 2.0%. Two of 10 regions reported ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels. One state experienced low ILI activity; 48 states and New York City experienced minimal ILI activity, and the District of Columbia and one state had insufficient data.

o GeographicSpreadofInfluenza:Thegeographicspreadofinfluenzainfourstateswas reported as widespread; Puerto Rico and two states reported regional influenza activity; 13 states reported local influenza activity; the District of Columbia and 27 states reported sporadic influenza activity; four states reported no influenza activity, and Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection

United States