EPI UPDATE

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In this issue:

1. Florida West Nile Virus Surveillance Update – 11/08/01

Robin Oliveri, Arbovirus Surveillance Coordinator

Table 1: Summary of West Nile Positive Data as of November 19, 2001 since last summary report on November 9, 2001.

2. Influenza Virus and RSV Surveillance Summary Update

Carina Blackmore, MS, Vet. Med., PhD.
Samuel Crane, MPH

Influenza Virus National Report

During week 45 (November 4-10, 2001), two specimens tested by the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories across the United States were positive for influenza. Since September 30, a total of 4,891 specimens for influenza viruses have been tested and 39 (1%) were positive. Of the 39 isolates identified, 38 were influenza A viruses and 1 was an influenza B virus. Fourteen of the influenza A viruses were subtyped, all were influenza A (H3N2). Influenza A isolates have been identified in Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, Texas and Utah. The influenza B isolate was identified in Texas.  The proportion of patient visits to sentinel physicians for influenza-like illness (ILI) overall was 1.2%, which is less than the national baseline of 1.9%. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza as reported by the vital statistics offices of 122 U.S. cities was 6.7% during week 45. This percentage is below the epidemic threshold of 7.2% for this time. Twenty-two state and territorial health departments (Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming) reported sporadic influenza activity and 26 reported no influenza activity.

Data from Florida suggests low levels of influenza activity. As was reported last week, one percent of patients seeking care by physicians in the influenza sentinel surveillance met the case definition for ILI (> 100 F + cough and or sore throat) during week 45. Influenza-like illness activity was detected in 17 counties from Escambia to Miami Dade. Higher flu activity than expected for this time of year (>2%) was reported by physicians in Brevard, Broward, Escambia, Palm Beach and Sarasota county. No new positive influenza tests were reported this week. Between September 4 and November 20, influenza A (H2N3) was isolated from 5 patients residing in Broward, Collier and Palm Beach counties. In addition, positive rapid antigen tests were reported from Duval County (1), Miami-Dade (4) and Volusia Counties (2).

Florida Respiratory Syncytial Virus Report

Current data reported from November 01 – November 08, 2001, suggest high levels of RSV activity throughout all regions of Florida. The Florida RSV Surveillance Project analyzes data from four regional areas encompassing 27 sentinel reporting facilities. The four regions performed a total of 514 RSV diagnostic tests with 147 returning positive. This data represents an overall percent positive of 28.6%. Between November 01 and November 08, all four regions reported well over 20% positivity rates. Central and Northeast Florida led the regions with 32.2% and 29.6% respectively. One new facility in the Northwest is expected to begin reporting next week with one prospective still in negotiations. This will add the Northwest as a new regional area.