2008 - 2009 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information
Influenza Surveillance Report for MMWR Week 46
The influenza (flu) activity level for Texas for the week ending November 15, 2008 was “sporadic.” Sporadic activity indicates that isolated reports of lab-confirmed influenza along with influenza-like illness have been reported. During week 46, six (1.4%) specimens tested by NREVSS laboratories in Texas were positive for influenza. The percentage of visits for influenza-like illness as reported by ILINet providers in Texas was below the regional baseline. Flu is occurring in the state at a very low level.
Reports from Health Service Regions
Reports were received from all Health Service Regions (HSRs) for week 46. HSRs 2/3, 7, 8, and 11 reported an increase in flu activity compared to week 45; all other HSRs reported the same level of flu activity compared to week 45. For a map of Health Service Regions, please visit the following website:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/state.shtm
Laboratory Results
During week 46, eight hospital laboratories and public health agencies across Texas reported conducting a total of 424 influenza tests (antigen, culture, and PCR) to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS ) sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the 346 antigen detection tests that were performed, two were positive for influenza A/not subtyped and one was positive for influenza B. The positive results were reported by a hospital in Bexar County. One positive PCR result for influenza A/not subtyped was reported in Dallas County; one positive PCR result for influenza B was reported in a Bell County resident. A total of four reports of culture-confirmed influenza were received from the Texas Department of State Health Services Laboratory, Scott and White Memorial Hospital, and Children's Medical Center for the following counties:
| Influenza A/H1 |
Influenza A/H3 |
Influenza A/not subtyped |
Influenza B |
| Willacy County |
(None) |
Dallas County |
Dallas County |
| |
|
McLennan County |
|
Additional positive results from point-of-care rapid flu tests were reported by providers throughout the state (see Texas map below).
Novel Influenza A Virus Infections
One novel influenza A virus infection in a Texas resident was reported to CDC during week 46. The individual's onset of illness occurred during week 42 (week ending October 18, 2008). The specimen was collected and the virus identified through routine influenza surveillance activities; the isolate was further identified by CDC as a swine influenza A (H1N1) virus. The individual reported several exposures to swine, including close contact with an ill pig, prior to onset. A thorough investigation determined that no other household or close contacts had developed illness. Swine influenza viruses do not normally infect humans, although sporadic cases have been reported.
Influenza–Associated Pediatric Mortality
No influenza–associated pediatric fatalities were reported during week 46.
School Closures and Institutional Outbreaks
No school closures or institutional outbreaks were reported during week 46.
U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network
Fifty–three sentinel providers in Texas reported data to the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) (formerly known as the U.S. Influenza Sentinel Provider Surveillance System) on patients with influenza–like illness (ILI) and total patients seen for any reason during week 46. Twenty-two (42%) of these providers saw at least one patient with ILI. Of all patient visits during this week, 2.06% were due to ILI. The ILI baseline for the West South Central Region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas) of the United States is 4.8% for the 2008-2009 season. The baseline is the mean percentage of patient visits for ILI during non-influenza weeks for the previous three seasons plus two standard deviations.
| Percentage of Influenza–Like Illness (ILI) Reported by Sentinel Providers in Texas as of 11/21/2008 3:32:12 PM |
| Week |
# Reporting |
Age 0-4 |
Age 5-24 |
Age 25-64 |
Age over 64 |
Total ILI |
Total Patients |
% ILI |
| 2008-40 |
76 |
84 |
133 |
127 |
22 |
366 |
20050 |
1.83 |
| 2008-41 |
77 |
114 |
163 |
124 |
19 |
420 |
20000 |
2.10 |
| 2008-42 |
78 |
105 |
156 |
90 |
7 |
358 |
19658 |
1.82 |
| 2008-43 |
78 |
120 |
152 |
106 |
20 |
398 |
19654 |
2.03 |
| 2008-44 |
77 |
119 |
186 |
103 |
26 |
434 |
20430 |
2.12 |
| 2008-45 |
67 |
99 |
106 |
122 |
27 |
354 |
17459 |
2.03 |
| 2008-46 |
53 |
78 |
72 |
97 |
20 |
267 |
12962 |
2.06 |
National Influenza Activity Map
The map showing influenza activity in the United States for MMWR week 46 is displayed below. The current U.S. flu weekly report may be found at: here.
 *This map indicates geographic spread and does not measure the severity of influenza activity.
For more information on flu surveillance activities in the State of Texas, please visit our main surveillance page.
|
Texas Department of State Health Services - Infectious Disease Control Unit
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