The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its most recent weekly flu report, influenza-like illness activity is on an early increase in parts of the country with three flu-associated pediatric deaths reported so far this season.
One of the three pediatric deaths was reported to the CDC during the week of Nov. 9.
Ten states reported the geographic activity of influenza-like illness to be either regional or widespread.
Nationally, influenza-like illness activity remains below baseline, according to the CDC.
Baystate Children’s Hospital announced this week that beginning Nov. 18 children 12 and under will not be admitted as visitors to the hospital and only two visitors at a time per patient.
The visitor policy change was attributed to the rise in cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV. The respiratory virus is a common cause of pneumonia and inflammation of the small airways of the lung in the very young as well as in older adults.
The hospital asked anyone one with the flu or not feeling to not visit out of consideration for the “best interests of both patients and community.”
The CDC report for the week ending Nov. 9 shows that four out of 10 regions in the country are at or above their baselines for influenza-like illness activity at this point in the season.
Massachusetts is among the 20 states, as well as Puerto Rico, to report flu viruses to geographically local and its Department of Public Health flu report for Nov. 12 says influenza severity and Influenza-like illness activity for the state are low.
Nationally, the CDC said, influenza B/Victoria viruses have been reported more frequently than other influenza viruses this season, but that influenza A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses are also circulating widely with the predominant virus varying by region.
Nationally, it said influenza B/Victoria viruses are the most commonly reported influenza viruses among children age 0-4 years (45 percent of reported viruses) and 5-24 years (53 percent of reported viruses), while H3N2 viruses are the most commonly reported influenza viruses among persons 65 years of age and older (72 percent of reported viruses.