Influenza severity for Massachusetts remains high this week.

The percentage of influenza-like illness visits for Massachusetts has continued to increase and remains higher than the previous two years in the same week.

Overall influenza-like illness activity for Massachusetts remains high this week. All regions are reporting high ILI activity.

The percent of influenza-associated hospitalizations in Massachusetts has continued to increase in recent weeks, but remains lower than the previous two years in the same week.

In the 2019-2020 flu season, more influenza B than influenza A positive specimens have been reported by hospitals and outpatient facilities in Massachusetts.

The number of influenza positive laboratory tests reported to MDPH increased this week by 20% compared to last week. The number of influenza A and influenza B positive laboratory tests reported to MDPH increased by 16% and 22%, respectively, compared to last week.

All influenza strains that have been characterized in Massachusetts this season to date are covered by the current influenza vaccine.

Nationally, influenza-like illness activity remains elevated and influenza B is most common, however, during recent weeks slightly more influenza A than influenza B has been reported.

There have been six confirmed case of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the U.S. and no cases identified in Massachusetts. For the most up to date information on the Wuhan virus please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.