Only one additional influenza outbreak in a long-term care facility in Iowa has been reported since the last Influenza Surveillance Network report, for a total of 54 in Iowa. The number of influenza-associated hospitalizations decreased over the past month. The final week of December there were 182 hospitalizations, which dropped to 129 at the first of the year, and down to 40 for the final week of January. Most hospitalizations were for people over the age of 64.

Also, two schools in Southeast Iowa reported 10 percent or greater absenteeism due to influenza-like illness; one was in Van Buren County and the other was in Appanoose County. At this time, flu activity is considered low in Iowa, but widespread.