Tennessee leads the country with the highest levels of influenza-like illness, see where the highest rates are

Influenza activity only continues to rise in Tennessee.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's updated Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, Tennessee is the state with the highest level of illness in the country. While other surrounding states like North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas report as "very high" or "high," Tennessee is the state with the highest level of “very high” illness activity.

The latest report is from Week 2, which ended Jan. 13 and was updated on Jan. 19.

Nationwide there have been a total of seven influenza-associated, pediatric deaths for the season (Dec. 2- Jan. 6), bringing the total to 47 said the CDC. The CDC also estimates that there have been at least 16 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations, and 11,000 deaths from flu so far this season.

The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older get an annual flu vaccine as long as influenza viruses are spreading. Vaccination can still provide benefits this season, they said. Additionally, there are also prescription flu antiviral drugs that can treat flu illness which should be started as early as possible and are especially important for higher risk patients.

Read ahead for a closer look at Tennessee's influenza report.

Tennessee hospitals: COVID-19, flu and RSV cases are filling up Tennessee clinics and hospital ERs

What are the highest flu rates in Tennessee?

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, there was one reported outbreak of influenza-illness during the week of Dec. 31, 2023, the latest the data is available for, and five since Oct. 31, 2023. Also during the week of Dec. 31, there were four open influenza outbreaks reported in the Nashville/Davidson Metro, Upper Cumberland Region & East Region.

There have been two pediatric deaths in Tennessee since Oct. 31.

Below are the percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness and how they differ through various regions.

Tennessee state average: 11.3%

Memphis/Shelby County Metro: 18.1%Chattanooga/Hamilton County Metro: 15%Southeast Region: 11.1%Northeast Region: 9.7%Nashville/Davidson County Metro: 9.6%Sullivan County Metro: 9.2%East Region: 8.3%Jackson/Madison County Metro: 8.2%Mid Cumberland Region: 7.6%Knox County Metro: 4.8%West Region: 2.5%Upper Cumberland Region: 1.3%South Central Region: 0%

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @_leyvadiana

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee leads country with the highest level of illness, CDC says