Synopsis: During week 20 (May 11-17, 2014), influenza activity continued to decrease in the United States.

o ViralSurveillance:Of3,885specimenstestedandreportedduringweek20byU.S.World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories, 339 (8.7%) were positive for influenza.

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

o Influenza-associatedPediatricDeaths:Oneinfluenza-associatedpediatricdeathwas reported.

o Influenza-associatedHospitalizations:Aseason-cumulativerateof35.6laboratory- confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100,000 population was reported.

o OutpatientIllnessSurveillance:Theproportionofoutpatientvisitsforinfluenza-likeillness (ILI) was 1.1%, which is below the national baseline of 2.0%. One of 10 regions reported ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels. One state experienced low ILI activity; 49 states and New York City experienced minimal ILI activity, and the District of Columbia had insufficient data.

o GeographicSpreadofInfluenza:Thegeographicspreadofinfluenzaintwostateswas reported as widespread; Guam and five states reported regional influenza activity; six states reported local influenza activity; the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 32 states reported sporadic influenza activity; five states reported no influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection

United States