Flu activity has decreased slightly during the past week in all state regions. The highest activity was reported in the southeast and northwest regions.

The code for the geographic spread is “widespread” for the week that ended on Feb. 2.

A total of 24,853 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases have been reported season to date. Confirmed reports were received from all 67 counties.

The percent of outpatient visits associated with influenza-like illness has increased slightly and is still higher than the epidemic threshold for the region.

There are 30 adult flu associated deaths reported season-to-date.

There were no influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported this week. There has been one influenza-associated pediatric death reported this season.

The latest figures:

Carbon

Type A: 247

Type B: 1

Unspecified: 0

Total: 248

Lehigh

Type A: 1,294

Type B: 32

Unspecified: 41

Total: 1,367

Monroe

Type A: 516

Type B: 1

Unspecified: 0

Total: 517

Northampton

Type A: 1,402

Type B: 54

Unspecified: 1

Total: 1,457

Schuylkill

Type A: 370

Type B: 3

Unspecified: 1

Total: 374

It is important to note that the influenza case counts presented are restricted to only those cases that have had a positive laboratory test for flu (by rapid test, DFA, PCR or culture) reported to the PADOH. These case counts represent only a fraction of the actual burden of illness due to influenza occurring in the commonwealth at any given time. This is because most people with influenza do not go to the doctor or are not tested or reported. Influenza spread and severity varies widely from season to season. It is estimated that five to 20 percent (600,000 to 2,400,000) of Pennsylvanians get the flu each year, and 120 to 2,000 die from complications of influenza.