2005 - 2006 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information
The flu activity level for the week ending January 21, 2006 is widespread. Flu activity has been reported in all regions of the state for the fourth consecutive week.
Reports were received for all 11 Health Service Regions (HSRs) for week 3. An increase in flu activity was reported in HSRs 1, 2, 3, 4/5N. Activity has remained about the same in HSRs 6/5S, 7, 8, and 9/10. Only HSR 11 reported a decrease in activity. For a map of Health Service Regions, please visit the following website:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/state.shtm
During week 3, culture confirmed influenza A was identified in Bell, Bexar, Brazos, Burleson, Castro, Childress, Crosby, Dallas, Falls, Garza, Grimes, Hansford, Harris, Hemphill, Hutchison, Lamb, Lubbock, McLennan, San Patricio, Smith, Tom Green, Travis, and Wichita Counties. The majority of flu cultured by the DSHS lab continues to be A/H3N2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have further characterized the influenza isolates submitted by DSHS as A/California/07/2004-like, which is one of the A components of the current vaccine.
A different strain of influenza B has been identified in Dallas County. Influenza B/Hong Kong has been isolated at the DSHS lab. This strain is a member of the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage. The previous week, the DSHS lab identified B/Shanghai/361/2002-like (a member of the B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage). Dallas County continues to be the only area of the state with culture confirmed flu B. Providers are encouraged to send any influenza B positive specimens to the DSHS lab for further analysis. For information on submitting a specimen, please call your Health Service Region or the Infectious Disease Control Unit (IDCU) in Austin at: (512) 458-7676.
School districts in Archer and Baylor Counties have reported closing due to influenza. Collin and Dawson Counties have reported school outbreaks but have not closed. No other institutional outbreaks have been reported.
For more information on flu surveillance activities in the State of Texas, please visit the following website:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/influenza/surveillance/
Data from the Sentinel Provider Surveillance Network (SPSN) indicates a slight decrease in influenza-like illness (ILI) from the previous week.
PERCENTAGE OF VISITS FOR INFLUENZA-LIKE-ILLNESS REPORTED BY SENTINEL PROVIDERS IN TEXAS
|
Week
|
# Reporting
|
Age 0-4
|
Age 5-24
|
Age 25-64
|
Age over 64
|
Total ILI
|
Total Patients
|
% ILI
|
2005-45
|
33
|
68
|
124
|
93
|
13
|
298
|
11436
|
2.60
|
2005-46
|
37
|
102
|
142
|
117
|
18
|
379
|
13824
|
2.74
|
2005-47
|
35
|
95
|
119
|
93
|
6
|
313
|
10897
|
2.87
|
2005-48
|
43
|
144
|
163
|
128
|
9
|
444
|
15657
|
2.83
|
2005-49
|
39
|
118
|
181
|
116
|
3
|
418
|
12894
|
3.24
|
2005-50
|
45
|
160
|
268
|
190
|
13
|
631
|
14410
|
4.37
|
2005-51
|
44
|
146
|
149
|
61
|
7
|
363
|
7797
|
4.65
|
2005-52
|
39
|
219
|
232
|
363
|
29
|
843
|
10140
|
8.31
|
2006-01
|
39
|
177
|
198
|
294
|
42
|
711
|
11301
|
6.29
|
2006-02
|
51
|
200
|
343
|
252
|
33
|
828
|
13910
|
5.95
|
2006-03
|
41
|
246
|
410
|
266
|
26
|
948
|
11782
|
8.04
|
Statewide Influenza Activity For the Week Ending January 21, 2006
(MMWR Week 3)
 *Influenza activity level corresponds to current MMWR week only and does not reflect previous weeks’ activity.
|