Flu Killing at Epidemic Levels, CDC Reports

By Jeffrey Kopman Published: Feb 17, 2014, 11:45 AM EST weather.com

Managing Cold and Flu Symptoms

Despite winter storms and freezing temperatures, this year's flu season is beginning to wane. But it was still at epidemic levels at the beginning of February, the flu's historically most-active month, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(MORE: The WORST States for Disease)

The sixth week of flu season — the week of Feb. 2 — the flu killed 8.4 percent of all people who died across the 122 participating cities. To be considered an epidemic, influenza and pneumonia must kill above 7.3 percent.

As of the report through Feb. 8, fifty children have died from the flu, with hundreds of adult deaths reported across the country from the flu and its complications. It has sickened more than 6,600 — that's the number of lab-confirmed flu cases nationwide, but actual infection rates are likely much higher.


See the latest national flu report from the CDC and get state-by-state flu levels from the experts at weather.com.



This year's flu is predominantly H1N1 (commonly referred to as swine flu). This strain disproportionately targets young, healthy adults.

Typically, the flu hits those over 65 the hardest. People older than 65 are still the most likely to be hospitalized, however.Oklahoma and Arkansas had the highest flu activity for the week, while the virus was also widespread in New York, Texas, Connecticut and Kansas.

(MORE: Why Flu Season Strikes in Winter)

Flu season typically runs until April, and usually peaks in February. This year’s season appears to have peaked during the last week in 2013, but cases could spike again before the season ends, as they did during the 2011-2012 season.

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