Michaela Fleming

An original version of this article was published by sister publication ContagionLive.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated 29 million influenza (flu) cases have reached the US in the 2019-2020 season.

Though activity remains reportedly high, the CDC indicated overall flu activity has decreased slightly week-over-week.

Overall, visits to clinicians for influenza-like-illness decreased from 6.7% last week to 6.1% this week. However, all US regions remain above baseline in reporting outpatient influenza-like-illness occurrence.

According to the latest FluView data, there have been 280,000 hospitalizations for influenza recorded as of February 15, 2020. This figure is consistent with hospitalization rates at this point in time during recent seasons; however, hospitalization rates among children and young adults are considered higher than in recent seasons.

The CDC also indicates that mortality related to pneumonia and influenza has been low during this respiratory virus season. So far, there have been 16,000 flu-related deaths documented during the US influenza season. Of these, there have been 105 influenza-associated deaths among children.

reported that influenza B/Victoria was the 

 in the US this season. At this point in time, there has been a decrease in the percentage of specimens testing positive for influenza B, although the percentage of specimens testing positive for influenza B is on the rise.  

Nationally, influenza B viruses are being reported more commonly among children and young adults. Among young children aged 0-4, 53% of reported cases have been B viruses and among the 5- to 24-year-old population 68% of reported cases have been B viruses. On the other hand, A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses are the most commonly reported influenza viruses are the most commonly reported viruses among the 25- to 64-year-old population (57% of reported viruses) and 65+ population (64% of reported viruses).

The CDC continues to remind the public that antiviral medications are important to control the spread of seasonal flu. Thus far >99% of influenza viruses tested this season are susceptible to the 4 antiviral medications that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and that are recommended for use in the United States this season.

. The report estimates that so far this season the vaccine is 45% effective overall and is 55% effective in children.

Although the authors of the report acknowledged that more effective vaccines are needed, they also noted that the currently available vaccines are providing substantial health benefits.

“It's important to know that this COVID-19 emergence is also occurring simultaneous to our regular seasonal influenza,” Christina Tan, MD, MPH, state epidemiologist, assistant commissioner, New Jersey Department of Health, 

What we're seeing in New Jersey, as well as elsewhere throughout the country, is peak activity of influenza right now. January, February is typically around the time that we see peak activity.”

fight flu in the wake of COVID-19’s emergence

? Tan said that it’s important to take common-sense steps to prevent all respiratory viruses.

“This is an opportunity to remind everybody to be mindful that you know, if you haven't gotten your flu vaccine yet, get vaccinated for flu. Take those easy steps. Cover your coughs and sneezes, make sure you wash your hands all the time. Stay home when you're sick. Those types of precautions are helpful not only for seasonal flu, but also for whatever it might be emerging.”

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Though weekly activity has slowed, experts insist the national activity remains high overall.

Flu Cases Near 30 Million in the US, CDC Reports

Although much attention has been on novel coronavirus (

), due to an increasing number of cases across the globe, the numbers indicate that we need to continue to pay attention to 

 of the COVID-19 have been confirmed in the US, yet flu cases for the 2019-20 US season have 

 over a one-week span. And flu activity will only continue to increase in the upcoming weeks.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) FluView reports that last week the percentage of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza stands at 7.1%, just below the epidemic threshold of 7.2%.

Visits to clinicians for influenza-like illness increased from 6% to 6.7% last week with all regions remaining above baseline. However, overall hospitalization rates for the season are similar to previous seasons with a current rate of 35.5 per 100,000.

The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza at clinical laboratories also increased last week, rising from 28.4% to 29.8%. At this time, 47 jurisdictions are experiencing high influenza-like illness activity, compared with 44 jurisdictions the previous week.

Recent estimates indicate that of the 22 million flu cases in the US thus far, 210,000 hospitalizations have occurred, and 12,000 deaths have been reported. In total, there have been 78 pediatric deaths so far this season, with 10 new deaths reported last week.

Earlier this season it was reported that 

influenza B/Victoria was the predominant strain

 for the 2019-20 season, yet at this time cases of the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus are approximately equal to the B strain after rising over recent weeks.

CDC officials continue to recommend vaccination as the best way to prevent influenza and reduce duration of illness. According to the agency, approximately 173.3 million doses of the flu vaccine have been administered in the US this season.

“I think something that gets lost in the narrative is that while the flu shot prevents a percentage of infections, and some people will go and develop the flu anyway, even if they do, there's some evidence that it's attenuated, and that the complications from having the flu including death are lessened even if someone develops flu after they've gotten a shot,” Jason C. Gallagher, PharmD, editor in chief of 

and a clinical professor at Temple University of College of Pharmacy, said in a 

 that experts in the influenza division of the agency have developed a portable flu laboratory that can sequence the influenza genome and analyze influenza A viruses in real-time and on-site in the event of an outbreak.

The kit, which is called Mia (Mobile Influenza Analysis), brings influenza sequencing into the field, which will cut the time needed to genetically analyze flu viruses in half and produce real-time actionable data that can be used in a public health response. 

In an animal model study, a team was able to successfully use Mia to extract, sequence, and analyze flu samples in just 14.5 hours, a task that usually takes a week when samples must be sent to a laboratory for examination.

According to the CDC’s statement, the experts who developed the tool estimate that in the event of a flu pandemic, through proactive surveillance and using Mia, there would be an 8-week advantage for flu vaccine manufacturing.

will continue to monitor influenza cases and the 2019-nCoV outbreak. To track the case counts in the COVID-19 outbreak, visit the 

Although much attention is on coronavirus, patients might need to be more concerned with the flu.

Flu Cases Exceed 22 Million in US, CDC Reports

 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved triclabendazole (Egaten) for the treatment of fascioliasis in patients aged 6 years and older.

The approval marks the first FDA-approved drug for this neglected tropical disease, which is commonly known as liver fluke infestation. Fascioliasis is caused by 2 species of parasitic flatworms, 

, that can be transmitted to humans following consumption of larvae in contaminated water or food.

"Today's FDA approval of Egaten is another important milestone that we believe will help further expand access to this one-day treatment, taking us a step closer toward disease elimination," Vas Narasimhan, MD, CEO of Novartis, said in a 

Triclabendazole is currently the only medicine for fascioliasis recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is supplied by WHO during epidemic outbreaks and for appropriate use in endemic countries. No continent is free from fascioliasis; human cases have been reported from more than 70 countries worldwide, infecting 2.4 million people, with an additional 180 million at risk of infection.

If left untreated fascioliasis can cause pain and discomfort, leading to decreased quality of life. Symptoms of the acute phase of the disease include fever, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and eosinophilia. The disease later progresses to a latent phase during which symptoms are not as severe, with a chronic or obstructive phase following. In children, fascioliasis can be a serious infection with high fever, enlarged tender liver, and anemia. 

Novartis has been donating Egaten to the WHO since 2005 and has treated an estimated 2 million fascioliasis patients in more than 30 countries. In 2018, the company renewed its agreement with the WHO to extend the drug donation until 2022 and it’s estimated to reach 300,000 patients each year.

"This FDA decision is welcome news for millions who suffer or are at risk of fascioliasis and removes a major hurdle in expanding treatment to countries where it is most needed," said Dr Mwelecela Malecela, director of the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases at the WHO.

The approval of triclabendazole in the United States is expected to facilitate drug licensing and import to endemic countries, to helping provide sufficient availability of the drug when needed.

The FDA has approved triclabendazole (Egaten) for the treatment of fascioliasis, a neglected tropical disease in patients 6 years of age and older.

FDA Approves Triclabendazole for Treatment of Fascioliasis

The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health issued clearance for the Thermo Scientific QMS Plazomicin Immunoassay, according to a 

The immunoassay uses automated clinical chemistry analyzers to provide a quantitative measure of plazomicin in human plasma.

“Therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended for patients with a creatinine clearance (CrCl) between 15 mL/min and 90 mL/min receiving plazomicin. A reliable, commercially available assay will enable wider safe utilization of this important medication,” Monica V. Mahoney, PharmD, BCPS-AQ ID

® Editorial Board member from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, said in an interview.

The assay was developed through a collaboration between Achaogen and Thermo Fisher Scientific with the goal of assisting clinicians in determining appropriate doses for plazomicin in indicated patients.

"Therapeutic drug monitoring aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. The measurement of levels of plazomicin in blood will enable TDM-adjusted plazomicin dosing in recommended patient populations," Janet Dorling, chief commercial officer at Achaogen, said in a 

. "Monitoring plazomicin drug levels with accuracy and precision has been an important goal and, with the achievement of this regulatory milestone, we are excited about the commercialization of the QMS Plazomicin Immunoassay from Thermo Fisher."

According to the statement issued by Thermo Fisher Scientific, the immunoassays allow clinicians to monitor and administer therapies on an individual patient basis in order to optimize drug levels, and reduce the effects of under or over dosage to improve overall patient outcomes.

 in June as a once-daily intravenous aminoglycoside therapy for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) including acute pyelonephritis caused by certain Enterobacteriaceae including 

Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis

 in adult patients 18 years and older with limited or no options for alternative treatment.

The FDA’s approval was based on the results of the phase 3 clinical trial, Evaluating Plazomicin in cUTI (EPIC), in which plazomicin demonstrated noninferiority to meropenem for the co-primary efficacy endpoints of composite cure in the microbiological modified intent to treat population in the treatment of adult patients with cUTI.

An earlier version of this article was published as, “

Plazomicin Immunoassay Cleared by The Center for Devices and Radiological Health