Synopsis: During week 6 (February 2-8, 2014), influenza activity decreased, but remained high in the United States.

o ViralSurveillance:Of7,562specimenstestedandreportedduringweek6byU.S.World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories, 1,268 (16.8%) were positive for influenza.

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

o Influenza-associatedPediatricDeaths:Teninfluenza-associatedpediatricdeathswere reported.

o Influenza-associatedHospitalizations:Aseason-cumulativerateof22.5laboratory- confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100,000 population was reported.

o OutpatientIllnessSurveillance:Theproportionofoutpatientvisitsforinfluenza-likeillness (ILI) was 3.0%, above the national baseline of 2.0%. All 10 regions reported ILI above region-specific baseline levels. Six states experienced high ILI activity; seven states experienced moderate ILI activity; 19 states and New York City experienced low ILI activity; 18 states experienced minimal ILI activity, and the District of Columbia had insufficient data.

o Geographic Spread of Influenza: The geographic spread of influenza in 24 states was reported as widespread; 20 states reported regional influenza activity; the District of Columbia, Guam, and five states reported local influenza activity; Puerto Rico and one state reported sporadic influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported no influenza activity.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection

United States