The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report, Early Release, provides the following information about influenza activity.

- Between the first pandemic flu (H1N1) flu case in April and the end of August, the estimate of total flu cases is “at least” one million.

- Pandemic cases reported peaked in May and June, declined in July and early August.

- In the last two weeks of August, pandemic case reports have picked up in specific areas of the U.S.  The CDC’s comment is that these cases may signal an “early start” to the 2009-2010 flu season.

- At least at the beginning of the season, the pandemic (H1N1) will predominate. That may hold true throughout the season but no one can predict that.

- The deaths attributable to influenza and pneumonia were “within the bounds of what it expected for summer.”

- There have been 47 pediatric deaths reported  to the CDC between April 26 and August 29.

- Six states are reporting wide-spread activity got the reporting period of August 23-29 (latest data):  Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina and Puerto Rico.  Thirteen           additional states reported regional influenza activity.

- The report says, “Any widespread influenza activity in August is uncommon.”

Centers for Disease Control Morbidity and Mortality Report Early Release

“The first 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infections were identified in the United States in April 2009 (1). By August, the cumulative number of infections in the United States was estimated to be at least 1 million.* This report provides an overview of influenza activity during April–August 2009 and recommendations for the upcoming 2009–10 influenza season. Pandemic H1N1 influenza activity peaked in the United States during May and June and declined during July and early August. However, levels of influenza activity remained above normal for summer months, and focal outbreaks were reported throughout the summer. During the last 2 weeks of August, pandemic H1N1 influenza activity increased in certain areas of the United States. Clinicians and public health officials should be aware that these recent increases might signal an early start to the 2009–10 influenza season, with pandemic H1N1 influenza viruses predominating at least initially.”

…”Data from the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System indicate that the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was within the bounds of what is expected in the summer and did not exceed the epidemic threshold for 2 or more consecutive weeks at any time during April–August. However, 47 pediatric deaths associated with laboratory-confirmed pandemic H1N1 influenza occurred during April 26–August 29 and were reported to CDC.

Six states (Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina) and Puerto Rico reported widespread influenza activity for the most recent reporting week (August 23–29). Any widespread influenza activity in August is uncommon. Thirteen additional states reported regional influenza activity.

Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Early Release on September 10, 2009, for September 11, 2009.