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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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June 22, 2000
Contact: CDC, Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
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Flu Season 2000-01 |
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SURVEILLANCE |
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- Influenza surveillance helps to 1) determine when influenza
viruses are circulating, 2) identify circulating strains, 3) detect
changes in the viruses, 4) monitor influenza-related illness in the
United States, and 5) measure the impact of influenza on deaths in the
United States.
- CDC utilizes four components for influenza surveillance:
- World Health Organization and National
Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System Collaborating
Laboratories. Approximately 75 World Health Organization
collaborating virology laboratories and approximately 50
laboratories from the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus
Surveillance System located throughout the United States report the
total number of respiratory specimens tested and the number positive
for influenza by type and subtype each week. A subset of the
influenza viruses isolated is sent to CDC for antigenic
characterization.
- 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System.
Each week, the vital statistics offices of 122 cities report the
total number of death certificates filed and the number of those for
which pneumonia or influenza was mentioned in anywhere on the
certificate.
- State and Territorial Epidemiologists
Reports. State health departments report the estimated
level of influenza activity in their state each week. When activity
occurs, it is reported as sporadic, regional, or widespread which
are defined as follows: Sporadic — Influenza cases, either
laboratory-confirmed or influenza-like illness (ILI), are reported,
but reports of outbreaks in places such as schools, nursing homes,
and other institutional settings have not been received. Regional —
Outbreaks of either laboratory-confirmed influenza or ILI are
occurring in geographic areas containing less than 50% of the
state's population. A geographic area could be a city, county, or
district. Widespread — Outbreaks of either laboratory-confirmed
influenza or ILI are occurring in geographic areas representing more
than 50% of the state's population.
- U.S. Influenza Sentinel Physicians
Surveillance Network. Approximately 450 physicians
around the country report each week the total number of patients
seen and the number of those patients with influenza-like illness by
age group. States are not required to report influenza activity. All
reporting is completely voluntary.
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The reported information answers the questions of where and when
influenza is occurring and which influenza viruses are circulating. The
information cannot be used to determine how many people have become ill
with influenza during a given season, nor to project or derive rates of
influenza infection in the general population. Each year from October
through May, CDC provides weekly updates on U.S. influenza activity. The
information is posted online at
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/ |
Flu Season 2000-01: See also...
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