32 Influenza Hospitalizations

CDC Influenza page

521 hospitalizations

6 deaths

18.4% of cases required ICU care

42.3 hosps per 100,000 population


32.1 Epidemiologic Review

32.1.1 Disease Information

Overview: Influenza, or “the flu”, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs.

Symptoms: Symptoms typically include a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle or body aches, headache and tiredness.

Transmission: Influenza is typically spread by tiny droplets made when infected people cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can enter the mouth or noses of nearby individuals. Alternatively, a person can get influenza by touching an object or surface that has influenza virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes.

Treatment: There are influenza antiviral drugs that can be used to treat influenza, the most common of which being Oseltamivir, also known as Tamiflu. These can lessen symptoms and shorten illness duration but are best when given within one or two days of symptom onset.

Prevention Prevention methods can include vaccination every season, avoiding contact with sick people, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

32.1.2 Demographics


Race Rate per 100k
American Indian or Alaska Native, Non Hispanic 91.4
Asian, Non Hispanic 14.2
Black or African American, Non Hispanic 87.4
Hispanic or Latino 48.9
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Non Hispanic 163.8
Unknown <5 cases
White, Non Hispanic 34.1


32.1.3 Monthly and Historical Comparisons




32.2 Key Things to Know

  • Chronic metabolic (such as diabetes) (31%), cardiovascular (heart) (30%) and lung (26%) diseases were the most common underlying conditions in hospitalized cases.
  • 31% of hospitalizations had been vaccinated for the flu for the current season.
  • 30% of hospitalized individuals developed pneumonia during their illness.
  • The most common symptoms experienced in hospitalized cases were fever, cough and shortness of breath.
  • 18% of hospitalized cases spent time in the intensive care unit.
  • Annual influenza vaccination is the #1 way to prevent illness.