Division of Disease Control and Health Protection

Estimates are that between 15% and 40% of the population will develop illness from influenza every year. An average of about 36,000 people per year in the United States die from influenza, and 114,000 per year have to be admitted to the hospital as a result of influenza infection. Anyone can get the flu (even healthy people), and serious problems from influenza can happen at any age. People age 65 years and older, people of any age with chronic medical conditions, and very young children are more likely to get complications from influenza.

For the most current information about influenza in Florida, please see Florida's weekly surveillance report, the Flu Review, included below under Influenza Surveillance.

• On April 1, 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that confirmed human infection with novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus was identified in China. The first onset of illness was on February 19, 2013. WHO reports 131 total confirmed cases as of May 9, all in or with recent travel to China. Thirty-two infected individuals have died. FDOH continues to actively monitor the situation.

  • There is no evidence that avian influenza A(H7N9) virus is capable of sustained person-to-person transmission.

  • There is no evidence of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection in the United States or any countries other than China. No travel advisories to China are in effect.

  • On April 5, FDOH distributed a CDC Avian Influenza A(H7N9) virus Health Advisory to state, county and community health partners via EpiCom, Florida’s health alert notification system.

  • More information on avian influenza A(H7N9) virus and other novel and variant influenza viruses can be found at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Environment/medicine/arboviral/zoonoses/Zoonotic-avian.html

  • Avian influenza A(H7N9) virus is a kind of influenza normally found in birds. These are the first identified cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.

   

• Sixty-six Florida counties reported Mild or No influenza activity. One county reported Moderate influenza activity. Thirty-two counties reported declining influenza activity.

• Emergency department and urgent care center influenza-like illness (ILI) visits have decreased overall in recent weeks. In emergency departments and urgent care centers reporting to ESSENCE-FL, the statewide percent of emergency department visits for ILI was less than 2%.

  • In the Panhandle and Central Florida ILI visits decreased this week.

  • In Northeast and South Florida, emergency department visits for ILI increased this week.

   

• Nationally (including Florida), the most common subtypes of influenza detected this season been influenza A H3, followed by influenza B. In the last few weeks, influenza B is the commonly detected subtype in Florida and nationwide.

  • In week 19, one of ten specimens submitted for influenza testing to BPHL tested positive for influenza. It tested PCR positive for 2001 influenza A at BPHL. Influenza B, influenza A H3 and 2009 influenza A H1N1 have been detected. All of these are seasonal strains of influenza.

  • Nationally (including Florida), almost all circulating influenza is a good match for the vaccine.\

   

• No influenza or ILI outbreaks (epidemiologically linked cases of influenza in a single setting) were reported in week 19.

• No pediatric influenza-associated deaths were reported in week 19.

  • Eight pediatric influenza-associated deaths have been reported in the 2012-2013 season.

• The preliminary estimated number of Florida to pneumonia or influenza in week 18 is lower than the seasonal baseline, based on previous years’ data. Estimated deaths due to pneumonia and influenza are identified using preliminary death certificate data.

  • Nationwide data from CDC show pneumonia and influenza deaths for week 18 within expected levels.

• Because of low influenza activity in most regions of the state, Florida reported Sporadic influenza activity to CDC in week 19.

  • This activity level represents the geographic spread of influenza in Florida.