2004 - 2005 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information
The weekly flu activity report for CDC week 4 ending 1/29/05 remains widespread.
Reports were received for all 11 regions.
Nine of the eleven regions report increased flu activity this week, with two regions reporting about the same (high) level of activity as last week.
Data from the Sentinel Provider Surveillance Network (SPSN) indicate greatly increasing Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity, with levels at over four times the baseline level.
Schools in regions 3 and 5 are reporting institutional outbreaks resulting in increased absences of both staff and students. A school district in East Texas was forced to cancel classes on two consecutive days due to a 28% absence rate due to ILI.
Culture confirmed flu has been identified in all regions except region 1.
Counties with culture confirmed flu include Dallas, Tarrant, Harris, Bexar, Wichita, Bell, Erath, Johnson, Smith, Houston, Montgomery, McLennan, Travis, Comal, El Paso, Ector, and Midland.
The majority of culture confirmed flu remains A. Flu B activity is sporadic and mostly in Collin, San Patricio, Brazos, and Andrews counties.
There remains a good match between circulating flu strains and vaccine strains.
A map of Public Health Regions in Texas.
|