The number of Americans hospitalized for influenza has increased to the highest levels in nearly 10 years, according to an article on the Becker's Clinical Leadership and Infection Control website.
Last week, the number of people in hospitals with flu-like illness increased from 6.6 percent to 7.1 percent, the third highest rate of flu-related hospitalizations recorded in the last 15 years, according to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
The CDC reported 16 new pediatric flu deaths on Feb. 2, which brings the pediatric death count to 53.
The overall hospitalization rate was 51.4 per 100,000 population for the week ending Jan. 27.