2004 - 2005 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information
The weekly flu activity level for CDC week 5 ending 2/5/05 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 an increased level of Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity over last week, with levels over five and a half times the baseline level.
Schools in scattered locations around the state have reported increased absences due to ILI, and several have chosen to close their schools for a day or two during peak absence levels.
The DSHS lab received over 170 cultures last week, a significant increase over the previous week. Culture confirmed flu has been identified in all regions of the state.
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.
A new influenza strain that does not match this year's vaccine has been found in California .
A variant of the predominant A/Fujian virus responsible for most of the flu this winter, the new influenza strain has been dubbed A/California.
However, there have been no reports of this new strain in Texas.
There remains a good match between circulating flu strains and vaccine strains in Texas.
A map of Public Health Regions in Texas.
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