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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has notified clinicians that influenza activity nationwide is high and projected to remain elevated for several more weeks.
Because influenza activity is elevated and both influenza A and B virus infections can cause severe disease and death, the CDC’s health advisory is intended to serve as a reminder that early treatment with antiviral medications improves outcomes in patients with influenza. Specifically, the advisory recommends early antiviral treatment for hospitalized and high-risk outpatients, including children younger than two.
The advisory also recommends continued vaccinations as long as influenza viruses are circulating, as well as prompt initiation of antiviral treatment for severely ill, without waiting for laboratory confirmation.