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Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update

Week ending October 12, 2002-Week 41

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The following information may be quoted:

Synopsis:

During week 41 (October 6-12, 2002)*, one of the specimens tested by World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) laboratories was positive for influenza. The proportion of patient visits to sentinel providers for influenza-like illness (ILI) overall was 1.2%, which is less than the national baseline of 1.9%. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was 6.0%. Nine state and territorial health departments reported sporadic influenza activity and 37 reported no influenza activity**.

Laboratory Surveillance*:

During week 41, WHO and NREVSS laboratories reported 446 specimens tested for influenza viruses. One influenza A (H1N1) isolate was identified in North Carolina.

Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance:

During week 41, the percentage of all deaths due to pneumonia and influenza as reported by the vital statistics offices of 122 U.S. cities was 6.0%. This percentage is below the epidemic threshold of 6.4% for week 41.

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Influenza-like Illness Surveillance *:

During week 41, 1.2% of patient visits to U.S. sentinel providers were due to ILI. This percentage is less than the national baseline of 1.9%. On a regional level***, the percentage of visits for ILI ranged from 0.4% to 1.8%. Due to wide variability in regional level data, it is not appropriate to apply the national baseline to regional level data.

Influenza Activity as Assessed by State and Territorial Epidemiologists**:

Influenza activity was reported as sporadic in 9 states (Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia) and New York City. Thirty-seven states reported no influenza activity, and 4 states and Washington, D.C. did not report.

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* Reporting is incomplete for this week. Numbers may change as more reports are received.

** Influenza activity is defined as influenza-like illness and/or culture-confirmed influenza.

*** Surveillance Regions: New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island); Mid-Atlantic (New Jersey, New York City, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York); East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin); West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota); South Atlantic (Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia); East South Central (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee); West South Central (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas); Mountain (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming); Pacific (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington)

Report prepared October 17, 2002

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