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INFLUENZA
VIRUS SURVEILLANCE SUMMARY UPDATE
Week
ending October 26, 2002-Week 43
Carina
Blackmore, M.S. Vet. Med., Ph.D.
Florida:
During week 43 (October 20-26, 2002) influenza
activity, calculated based on the proportion of patients with influenza-like
illness (ILI) seeking care by physicians participating in the Florida Sentinel
Physicians Surveillance Network was low (0.8%). Higher flu activity than
expected for this time of year (>2%) was reported by physicians in Brevard,
Leon and Polk Counties. A positive rapid flu test was reported from Miami-Dade
County. Last week, an influenza A(H1N1) outbreak was confirmed in Holmes County.
National report: Three influenza isolates, all reported from Florida,
were made from the 668 specimens tested by the World Health Organization (WHO) and National
Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating
laboratories across the United States
this week. Influenza A(H1N1) activity has also been detected in North
Carolina. The proportion of patient visits to sentinel physicians for
influenza-like illness (ILI) was 0.8% nationwide, which is below the national
baseline of 1.9%. AN ILI outbreak was reported from Louisiana. Sporadic
influenza activity was reported from 8 states (Colorado, Georgia, Indiana,
Kansas, Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico and West Virginia). The proportion of
deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza as reported by the vital statistics
offices of 122 U.S. cities was 6.1% during week 43. This percentage is
below the epidemic threshold of 7.0% for this time.
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