The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) in the United States bounced back again above the epidemic threshold during the second week of 2010, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday.

"During week two (Jan. 10 to 16), 8.0 percent of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was above the epidemic threshold of 7. 6 percent for week two," the CDC said on its web site.

Last Friday, the CDC reported 7.3 percent of all deaths based on the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System due to P&I for the previous week, saying that this percentage was below the epidemic threshold of 7.6 percent for week one (Jan. 3 to 9).

Since last October, when the A/H1N1 pandemic peaked and as many as 48 states had widespread activity of the new virus, the proportion of deaths attributed to P&I based on the 122 Cities Report had been above the epidemic threshold for 11 weeks running.

As the A/H1N1 flu continues to wane, the proportion of deaths linked to P&I based on the 122 Cities Report was dipping below the epidemic threshold in week 50 of 2009, but bouncing back in week 51. After that, it remained below the epidemic threshold.

The latest "increase in P&I is thought to result from an increase in reports of pneumonia-associated deaths in older people, " the CDC explained, adding that "these deaths are not necessarily related to flu illness."

The epidemic threshold is the point at which the observed proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia or influenza is significantly higher than would be expected at that time of the year in the absence of substantial influenza-related mortality.

The latest statistics released by the CDC show that during the second week of 2010, all other key indicators of the A/H1N1 flu declined compared to the previous week.

But federal and local health officials continue to urge people to get vaccinated against another possible wave of the pandemic.

"The swine flu, also known as H1N1 flu, is not like the seasonal flu that typically debuts in late fall and wanes by late winter. It can come back," explained Susan Walsh, California state deputy health commissioner.

"Many people are used to seasonal flu, and once they don"e;t see illness in their schools and among their families" they believe the threat is over, Walsh said. "Just because it doesn"e;t look like it"e;s not here doesn"e;t mean it isn"e;t."

She strongly recommends that people should get their shots now while supply is high to guard against a another possible wave.

Source: Xinhua