Hospitalizations and deaths related to the A/H1N1 virus in the United States now continue to be higher than expected, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday.

"During week 48 (ending on December 5), 7.8 percent of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to pneumonia and influenza (P&I). This percentage was above the epidemic threshold of 7.1 percent for week 48," the CDC said on its website.

Including week 48, the proportion of deaths attributed to P&I was above the epidemic threshold for the tenth consecutive week, the CDC added.

The latest statistics released by the CDC showed that from August 30 to December 5 this year, there were 33,490 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations and 1,445 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated deaths, including 204 of young patients under the age of 18.

So far, two groups have been the hardest-hit -- children and young adults as well as the Native American and Alaskan Native populations.

Among those who have died since the new virus first surfaced in April, an estimated 1,100 were children and 7,500 young adults, according to the latest statistics released by the CDC.

On the whole, the CDC said the A/H1N1 flu infections continue to be on the wane nationally.

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2009)