The number of deaths attributed to swine flu in the US was once again below the epidemic threshold during the week of Dec. 27, 2009-Jan.2, 2010, according to the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who released a statement on Friday.

“During week 52 (ending on Jan. 2), 7.4% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was below the epidemic threshold of 7.5% for week 52,” the CDC said on its website.

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.