2005 - 2006 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information
The flu activity level for the week ending February 4th, 2006 is widespread. Flu activity has been reported in all regions of the state for the sixth consecutive week.
Reports were received for all 11 Health Service Regions (HSRs) for week 5. An increase in flu activity was reported in HSRs 2, 3, 4/5N, and 7. Activity remained about the same in HSRs 8 and 11. A decrease in flu activity was reported in HSRs 1 and 9/10. For a map of Health Service Regions, please visit the following website:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/state.shtm
During week 5, culture confirmed influenza A was identified in Bell, Bexar, Brazos, Collin, Coryell, Dallas, Harris, Lubbock, McLennan, Milam, Tarrant, 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 and A/New York/55/2004-like. A/California/07/2004-like is one of the A components of the current vaccine. A/New York/55/2004-like is antigenically equivalent to A/California/07/2004-like.
Culture confirmed influenza B was identified in Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant Counties and also reported at Brooks City-Base in San Antonio (Bexar County) by the Air Force Institute for Operational Health.
The DSHS lab received approximately half the number of specimens collected during week 5 than the previous week. It is unclear if this represents a decline in influenza or is due to some other cause; however, interestingly, only 30% of those specimens collected during week 5 yielded influenza, as opposed to 61% collected during week 4.
No institutional outbreaks or school closures 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; however, fewer than half of the participating providers in Texas have reported at this time.
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
|
2005-46
|
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
|
40
|
177
|
201
|
297
|
46
|
721
|
11399
|
6.32
|
2006-02
|
55
|
229
|
359
|
269
|
36
|
893
|
15487
|
5.76
|
2006-03
|
49
|
311
|
401
|
291
|
28
|
1031
|
13832
|
7.45
|
2006-04
|
63
|
295
|
454
|
291
|
45
|
1085
|
15637
|
6.93
|
2006-05
|
32
|
149
|
298
|
216
|
32
|
695
|
11176
|
6.21
|
Statewide Influenza Activity For the Week Ending February 4, 2006
(MMWR Week 5)
 *Influenza activity level corresponds to current MMWR week only and does not reflect previous weeks’ activity.
|