The percentage of laboratory-confirmed positive cases of influenza infections, an important indicator of influenza activity, increased to 22 percent, up from 4 percent for the week ending November 25, 2000. Widespread influenza activity was reported in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia and regional activity was reported in 18 states including Alabama, California, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Sporadic activity was reported in 19 states, and one state did not report. The best protection against influenza is vaccination. Influenza vaccine for this flu season is now in good supply and can still save lives if administered to high-risk persons in February.
Influenza is highly contagious and can have serious complications such as pneumonia.
People age 50 and older, and younger adults and children with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or respiratory problems, as well pregnant women in their second or third trimester, should get a flu shot now. An estimated 900 deaths and 1,300 hospitalizations can be prevented for each additional million persons aged 65 and older. CDC estimates approximately 70.4 million doses of influenza vaccine have been shipped by manufacturers. About 6.2 million doses are still available for purchase from the CDC contract. The minimum order is now 50 doses, which makes it convenient for all health care providers to be able to purchase the vaccine with confidence that it will all be used.