US flu activity low, but 2 flu-related pediatric deaths

For the week of Nov. 9, US flu activity was low but increasing in the South, with the first two influenza-related pediatric deaths, health officials say. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the proportion of people seeing their healthcare provider for influenza-like illness increased slightly, but the South Central region -- Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas -- was above baseline influenza activity. Baseline influenza activity is the level that clinical influenza activity remains throughout the summer. Alabama and Mississippi experienced moderate activity; Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas and Vermont experienced low influenza-like illness activity, while 48 states and New York City experienced minimal influenza-like illness activity. Flu-like illness is the amount of flu-like illness occurring in each state. Puerto Rico and Alabama reported regional geographic influenza activity -- geographic spread data show how many areas within a state or territory are seeing flu activity. Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina and Texas reported local activity. The District of Columbia, Guam and 35 states reported sporadic influenza activity, while six states reported no influenza activity.