2004 - 2005 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information
The weekly flu activity level for CDC week 10 ending 3/12//05 remains regional.
Reports were received for all eleven regions.
Flu activity has continued to decline this week.
None of the regions reported increased flu activity this week.
Four of the eleven regions reported about the same (high) level of flu activity as last week, representing North Texas (HSR 2), East Texas (HSRs 4, 5), and South Texas (HSR 11).
The seven regions representing the panhandle (HSR 1), Northeast Texas (HSR 3), Houston/Galveston coastal area (HSR 6), Central Texas (HSR 7), South Central Texas (HSR 8), and West Texas (HSRs 9/10) reported decreasing flu activity.
(A map of Health Service Regions)
Data from the Sentinel Provider Surveillance Network (SPSN) indicates another week of declining ILI activity, although levels are still relatively high at over three times the baseline level. This is the third week of ILI decreases. Less than a third of our SPSN sites have reported in as of this time, and this data is subject to change pending new reports.
School absentee levels due to ILI are likewise decreasing, with another week of no reports of school closures. This may be due in part to Spring Break.
One hospital outbreak was reported in South Texas (HSR 11).
Culture confirmed flu has been identified in all regions of the state, with declining specimen levels at the DSHS lab this week.
Counties with culture confirmed flu include Dallas, Tarrant, Harris, Bexar, Wichita, Bell, Travis, Taylor, Smith, Potter, Wichita, and Lubbock.
The majority of culture confirmed flu remains A.
For more information on this new strain of flu, please see the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.
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