Flu statistics fall below epidemic levels this week for first time this year

Friday, April 7, 2017
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Flu season is not over yet, but recent studies show improvement.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the percentage of pneumonia and influenza-related deaths this past week dropped to 7.3 percent, which is slightly below the epidemic threshold of 7.4 percent.
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While the past few weeks showed gradual improvement, the CDC still warns that a shift back to epidemic levels is still possibly, especially since the current data are only slightly below the epidemic threshold.

However, the percentage of doctor visits related to influenza-like illness are also down, which is an important indicator of the decreasing severity of this year's flu season.

New York City and nine other states experienced low influenza-like illness activity.
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In another shift in flu trends this week, influenza B was the most common influenza virus type, which contrasts the previous trend of influenza A being the prominent strain this season.

For more information about the flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu for updates.
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