Surveillance

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2000-2001 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information

The trivalent influenza vaccine prepared for the 2000-2001 season will include A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2)-like, A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like, and B/Beijing/184/93-like antigens. For the A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2)-like antigen, U.S. manufacturers are using the antigenically equivalent A/Panama/2007/99 (H3N2) virus and for the B/Beijing/184/93-like antigen, they are using the antigenically equivalent B/Yamanashi/166/98 virus; these viruses, equivalent in protection, are being used because of their favorable growth properties and because they are representative of currently circulating A (H3N2) and B flu viruses.

Influenza results in approximately 20,000 deaths and 110,000 hospitalizations per year in the United States. Annual vaccination is the primary means for minimizing serious adverse outcomes from influenza infections. To meet U.S. vaccination needs in the 1999-2000 flu season, four manufacturers produced a combined total of 80-85 million doses. However, lower than anticipated production yields for this years influenza A (H3N2) vaccine component and other manufacturing problems are expected to lead to a delay in the distribution of vaccine and possibly fewer total doses of vaccine available for administration during the 2000-2001 flu season.

As new information becomes available, CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will issue updates. In the meantime, ACIP, CDC, and DSHS request that persons and organizations planning to administer influenza vaccine, as well as members of the public, join in these efforts to maximize protection of persons most likely to develop serious and life-threatening complications as a result of contracting the flu.

*includes reports of culture positive specimens from sources other than Texas Department of State Health Services Viral Laboratory/DSHS surveillance

Influenza Active Surveillance sites

IDEAS in cooperation with the Texas Department of State Health Services's Medical Virology Branch, and the Baylor College of Medicine actively monitors influenza activity around the state at the indicated labeled County sites.

Sites: 1=Bell, 2=Bexar, 3=Hays, 4=Dallas, 5= El Paso, 6= Galveston, 7=Harris, 8=Lubbock, 9=Nueces, 10=Potter, 11= Smith, 12=Tarrant, 13=Travis, 14=Wichita

Influenza culture results are shown in the table below:

Influenza activity is defined as influenza-like illness and/or culture-confirmed influenza. Many sources of information are used to determine level of influenza activity. These include but are not limited to DSHS and other laboratories, regional and local health department surveillance, research facilities, the CDC Sentinel Physician Surveillance Network, and reports from private physicians. Isolate totals are derived are from specimens submitted to the DSHS laboratory.

*Reporting is incomplete for these weeks so numbers may change as more reports are received.

Influenza activity is being reported and confirmed earlier this year compared to previous years. There are several explanations to account for this. The most likely reason is that this reflects a heightened awareness and increase surveillance for influenza activity. It is unlikely this activity is related to previously reported outbreaks in Alaska and other areas of the United States.

Weekly Summary - Week Ending April 21, 2001

This is the fourth consecutive week with no reported flu activity in Texas.
Dwayne Haught, Influenza Coordinator

Influenza activity is defined as influenza-like illness and/or culture-confirmed influenza. Many sources of information are used to determine level of influenza activity. These include but are not limited to DSHS and other laboratories, regional and local health department surveillance, research facilities, the CDC Sentinel Physician Suyrveillance Network, and reports from private physicians.

***Levels of Influenza Activity

No Activity: No cases of either influenza like illness(ILI)***** or culture confirmed influenza detected

Sporadic Activity: Sporadically occurring cases of either ILI or culture-confirmed influenza with no outbreaks detected.

Regional Activity: Outbreaks of either ILI or culture-confirmed influenza in counties having a combined population of <50% of the population of Texas.

Widespread Activity: Outbreaks of ILI or culture-confirmed influenza in counties with a combined population of > 50% of the states's population.

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