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    Infectious Disease Prevention Section
    Mail Code: 1927
    PO BOX 149347 - Austin, TX 78714-9347
    1100 West 49th Street, Suite G401
    Austin, TX 78714

    Phone: (512) 776-7676
    Fax: (512) 776-7616


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week 11

 

Surveillance

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Influenza Influenza
(Flu)
ICD-9 487; ICD-10 J10,11
Related Topics: Protecting Yourself During the Cold and Flu Season, Avian Flu, Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Asthma and SARS

2007 - 2008 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information

Influenza Surveillance Report for MMWR Week 11

The influenza (flu) activity level for Texas for the week ending March 15, 2008 was “regional.” During week 11, 116 (12.5%) specimens tested by NREVSS laboratories in Texas were positive for influenza. Of all specimens positive for influenza, 92 (79.3%) were positive for influenza B. The percentage of visits due to influenza–like illness (ILI) as reported by SPSN providers in Texas was elevated. Flu activity in Texas in week 11 continued to decrease in most regions.

 

Reports from Health Service Regions

Reports were received from all 11 Health Service Regions (HSRs) for week 11. HSRs 6/5S and 8 reported the same level of flu activity as week 10. All other regions reported a decrease in flu activity compared to week 10. For a map of Health Service Regions, please visit the following website:

 

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/state.shtm

 

Laboratory Results

During week 11, nine hospital laboratories and public health agencies across Texas reported conducting a total of 930 influenza tests (antigen, culture, and PCR) to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSSnew window) sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the 858 antigen detection tests performed, 21 were positive for influenza A/not subtyped and 78 were positive for influenza B. These results were reported from Bell, Bexar, Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Harris, and Lubbock counties. Positive PCR results for influenza A/not subtyped and influenza B were reported from Tarrant County. A total of 56 reports of culture–confirmed influenza were received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory, Scott and White Hospital Laboratory, Texas Children’s Hospital Laboratory, NREVSS, and other sources for the following counties:

 

 

Influenza A/H1 Influenza A/H3 Influenza A/not subtyped Influenza B
(None) Fannin County Bell County (2) Bell County (7)
  Nueces County Bexar County (2) Bexar County (13)
    Dallas County Dallas County (6)
    Harris County Harris County (16)
    Wichita County (2) McLennan County (3)
      Wichita County

Additional positive results from point-of-care rapid flu tests were reported by providers throughout the state (see Texas map below).

 

Antigenic Characterization

CDC has reported antigenic characterization results from 34 influenza isolates [7 influenza A/H1, 24 influenza A/H3, and 3 influenza B viruses] received from the DSHS Laboratory since the beginning of the 2007–08 flu season.

 

Influenza A/H1 [7]

  • Seven (100%) of the seven viruses were characterized as A/Solomon Islands/3/2006, the influenza A/H1 component of the 2007–08 influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere.
Influenza A/H3 [24]
  • Two (8%) of the 24 viruses were characterized as A/Wisconsin/67/2005–like, the influenza A/H3 component of the 2007–08 influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere.
  • Twenty–one (88%) of the 24 viruses were characterized as A/Brisbane/10/2007–like. A/Brisbane/10/2007 is a recent antigenic variant which evolved from A/Wisconsin/67/2005–like.
  • One (4%) of the 24 viruses showed somewhat reduced titers with antisera produced against A/Wisconsin/67/2005 and A/Brisbane/10/2007.
Influenza B (B/Victoria/02/87 and B/Yamagata/16/88 lineages) [3]
    Victoria lineage [0]
  • The influenza B component for the 2007–08 influenza vaccine is a B/Malaysia/2506/2004–like virus, belonging to the B/Victoria lineage.
    Yamagata lineage [3]
  • Three (100%) of the three viruses were identified as belonging to the B/Yamagata lineage of viruses.

 

These results are very similar to national antigenic characterization results. The national results may be found in the CDC weekly flu report at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/. The DSHS Laboratory sends a representative sample of influenza viruses to the CDC throughout the flu season.

 

Influenza–Associated Pediatric Mortality

One influenza–associated pediatric fatality occurred during MMWR week 11. The death occurred in a 7-year-old resident of DSHS Health Service Region 6/5S with significant underlying medical conditions. The child tested positive for influenza A/not subtyped by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The child had not been vaccinated for the current flu season. As of week 11, Texas has reported six influenza–associated pediatric deaths in the 2007–08 influenza season.

 

 

School Closures and Institutional Outbreaks

No school closures or institutional outbreaks were reported in week 11.

 

 

Sentinel Provider Surveillance Network

Sixty–four sentinel providers in Texas reported data to the U.S. Influenza Sentinel Provider Surveillance System (SPSN) on patients with influenza–like illness (ILI) and total patients seen for any reason during week 11. Of the 63 providers who reported seeing patients during week 11, 47 (74.6%) saw at least one patient with ILI. Of all patient visits during this week, 6.74% were due to ILI. The ILI baseline for the West South Central Region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas) of the United States is 4.3% for the 2007–2008 season. The baseline is the mean percentage of patient visits for ILI during non–influenza weeks for the previous three seasons plus two standard deviations.

 


Percentage of Influenza–Like Illness (ILI) Reported by Sentinel Providers in Texas as of (3/24/2008 10:33:59 AM)
Week # Reporting Age 0-4 Age 5-24 Age 25-64 Age over 64 Total ILI Total Patients % ILI
2007-40 84 256 163 151 49 619 21410 2.89
2007-41 88 264 255 207 58 784 25255 3.10
2007-42 86 274 270 261 50 855 25776 3.32
2007-43 85 368 290 208 47 913 26428 3.45
2007-44 95 391 276 206 55 928 28213 3.29
2007-45 87 411 314 243 39 1007 25665 3.92
2007-46 79 442 306 215 65 1028 24713 4.16
2007-47 91 478 317 272 73 1140 22748 5.01
2007-48 84 506 298 299 74 1177 26193 4.49
2007-49 84 232 290 162 16 700 20713 3.38
2007-50 80 256 265 128 16 665 18711 3.55
2007-51 68 169 197 186 26 578 15597 3.71
2007-52 77 176 201 191 22 590 12436 4.74
2008-01 90 217 302 332 29 880 16520 5.33
2008-02 97 373 500 630 117 1620 25891 6.26
2008-03 81 289 518 370 36 1213 21940 5.53
2008-04 87 369 886 650 54 1959 23306 8.41
2008-05 96 601 1208 954 158 2921 29106 10.04
2008-06 96 557 1128 951 112 2748 28337 9.37
2008-07 99 528 1035 808 124 2495 27815 8.97
2008-08 98 423 787 768 92 2070 26537 7.80
2008-09 90 421 575 687 83 1766 26598 6.64
2008-10 90 343 466 492 79 1380 24925 5.54
2008-11 64 216 333 356 31 936 13896 6.74


The map showing influenza activity in the United States for MMWR week 11 is displayed below. The current U.S. flu weekly report may be found here.

 

 

Influenza in USA Map

 

For more information on flu surveillance activities in the State of Texas, please visit our main surveillance page.




Texas Department of State Health Services - Infectious Disease Control Unit
1100 West 49th Street, Suite T801, Mail Code: 1960 PO BOX 149347 - Austin, TX 78714-9347
(512) 458-7676 - Fax: (512) 458-7616 - E-Mail

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Last updated May 19, 2010