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Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update
Week ending October 22, 2005-Week 42
Error processing SSI fileSynopsis:
During week 42 (October 16 - October 22, 2005)*, influenza activity was low in the United States. Nine (1.1%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories were positive for influenza virus. The proportion of patient visits to sentinel providers for influenza-like illness (ILI) and the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza were below baseline levels. One state reported regional influenza activity; 12 states, New York City, and Puerto Rico reported sporadic influenza activity; and 37 states and the District of Columbia reported no influenza activity.
Laboratory Surveillance*:
During week 42, WHO and NREVSS laboratories reported 795 specimens tested for influenza viruses and 9 (1.1%) were positive. Of these, 1 was an influenza A (H3N2) virus, 5 were influenza A viruses that were not subtyped, and 3 were influenza B viruses.
Since October 2, WHO and NREVSS laboratories have tested a total of 2,837 specimens for influenza viruses and 28 (1.0%) were positive. Among the 28 influenza viruses, 23 (82.1%) were influenza A viruses and 5 (17.9%) were influenza B viruses. Eleven (47.8%) of the 23 influenza A viruses have been subtyped and all were influenza A (H3N2) viruses. Ten states from 5 of the 9 surveillance regions** have reported laboratory-confirmed influenza this season.
Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance*:
During week 42, 6.4% of all deaths reported by the vital statistics offices of 122 U.S. cities were reported as due to pneumonia or influenza. This percentage is below the epidemic threshold of 6.9% for week 42.
Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality*:
No influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported for week 42.
Influenza-Associated Pediatric Hospitalizations*:
Laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric hospitalizations are monitored in two population-based surveillance networks ?/sup>: the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) and the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN). During October 1 - October 15, 2005, there were no reported cases of laboratory-confirmed, influenza-associated pediatric hospitalizations from the EIP. NVSN's estimated rates of hospitalization for influenza will be reported every 2 weeks beginning November 25, 2005.
In years 2000-2005, the end-of-season hospitalization rate for NVSN ranged from 3.7 (2002-03) to 12 (2003-04) per 10,000 children. The 2003-04 end-of-season hospitalization rate for EIP was 8.9 per 10,000 children aged 0-4 years and 0.8 per 10,000 for children aged 5-17 years. The 2004-05 NVSN end-of-season hospitalization rate for children aged 0-4 years was 7 per 10,000. The preliminary 2004-05 end-of-season hospitalization rate for EIP was 3.3 per 10,000 children aged 0-4 years and 0.6 per 10,000 for children aged 5-17 years. The difference in rates between NVSN and EIP may be due to different case-finding methods and the different populations monitored. For a summary of the methods used in each system, please refer to the surveillance methods in the Flu Activity section of the CDC influenza website.
Influenza-like Illness Surveillance*:
During week 42, 1.2%*** of patient visits to U.S. sentinel providers were due to ILI. This percentage is less than the national baseline of 2.2%. On a regional level**, the percentage of visits for ILI ranged from 0.4% to 1.6%. 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*:
During week 42, Texas reported regional influenza activity. Twelve states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wyoming), New York City, and Puerto Rico reported sporadic influenza activity. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia reported no influenza activity.
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Report prepared October 16, 2005
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