Flu activity remains elevated across the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Influenza-like illness is characterized by a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and a cough or sore throat. Providers are supplied with specimen collection kits, and submit samples to the Mississippi Public Health Laboratory for testing.

The most recent data available is for week 46, Nov. 13-19.

Nationwide, 18.2 percent of people who visited health care providers during this window test positive for the influenza virus. The most frequently reported strain was influenza A(H3N2). Six percent of visits were for respiratory illness, above the baseline norm.

Sixty-four percent of reporting jurisdictions had high or very high outpatient respiratory illness activity, compared to 51 percent the previous week.

Mississippi State Department of Health reports very high flu transmission data statewide. Lincoln County’s most recent report is that 9.6 percent of people who visited healthcare providers tested positive for the flu, down from 14.7 percent, but still high for baseline numbers.