Please note: The 2011-2012 influenza season began on October 2, 2011. For reports from the 2010-2011 season, please see http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/influenza/surveillance/2011/.
During week 6 in Texas:
- The influenza (flu) activity level (geographic spread of influenza) for Texas was “regional” and the ILINet Activity Level Indicator (intensity of influenza-like illness) was “minimal”. For more information please see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivitysurv.htm and the national FluView weekly report at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/.
- Fifty-four specimens tested by NREVSS laboratories in Texas were positive for influenza. Fifteen specimens were positive for 2009 influenza A (H1N1), one specimen was positive for influenza A (H3N2), two specimens were positive for influenza A (not subtyped), and six specimens were positive for influenza B by PCR test. All other positive tests were antigen detection tests. Five additional laboratories in Texas reported positive PCR tests for 2009 influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), influenza A (not subtyped), and influenza B.
- The percentage of visits for influenza-like illness as reported by ILINet providers in Texas was below the state and HHS regional baselines.
- No influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported.
- No school or institutional outbreaks of ILI or influenza were reported.
Reports from Health Service Regions
Reports were received from all Health Service Regions (HSRs) for week 6. HSRs 1, 8, and 11 reported an increased level of flu activity compared to week 5. HSR 2/3 reported a decreased level of flu activity compared to week 5. All other HSRs reported the same level of flu activity compared to week 5. For a map of Health Service Regions please visit the following website: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/state.shtm
Laboratory Results
Influenza
During week 6, nine hospital laboratories and public health agencies across Texas reported conducting a total of 885 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). Seventy-two percent of the influenza tests reported to NREVSS were antigen detection tests; these tests cannot identify the subtype of influenza detected. The results from Texas participants in NREVSS are summarized in the table below. Additional influenza test results (rapid tests, culture, PCR) were reported from providers and public health departments throughout the state (see county map at the end of this report).
Influenza Testing Results Reported by Texas NREVSS Laboratories
Testing Information
|
Week 6
|
| No. of specimens tested |
885 |
| No. of positive specimens (%) |
54 (6.10%) |
| Positive specimens by type/subtype |
| Influenza A |
47 (87.0%) |
| Subtyping performed |
16 (34.0%)
|
A (2009 H1N1)
|
15 (93.75%)
|
A (other H1N1)
|
0 (0%)
|
| A (H3N2) |
1 (6.25%)
|
| Subtyping not performed |
31 (66.0%)
|
| Influenza B |
7 (13.0%)
|
Influenza results (antigen detection, culture, and PCR) from NREVSS reporters for the 2011–12 season are presented in the graph below.
Other Respiratory Viruses
The NREVSS system collects information on a variety of respiratory viruses in addition to influenza including parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), and respiratory adenovirus. The results from week 6 are summarized below. (Three non-NREVSS laboratories also contribute to the RSV data below.)
Other Respiratory Virus Results Reported by Texas NREVSS Laboratories
Virus
|
Number of Laboratories Testing
|
Tests Performed
|
Positive Tests
|
Percentage of Tests Positive
|
| Adenovirus (respiratory) |
3
|
200
|
3
|
1.50%
|
| HMPV |
4
|
174
|
13
|
7.47%
|
| Parainfluenza virus |
3
|
200
|
2
|
1.00%
|
| Rhinovirus |
2
|
154
|
41
|
26.62%
|
| RSV |
21
|
1120
|
381
|
34.02%
|
Antigenic Characterization
Since October 2, 2011, CDC has reported antigenic characterization results from four influenza A (H3N2) viruses and one influenza A (H1N1) virus received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory.
Influenza A (H1N1) [1]
One virus was related to A/California/07/2009 (H1N1), the influenza A (H1N1) component of the 2011-2012 influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere.
Influenza A (H3N2) [4]
Four viruses were related to A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2), the influenza A (H3N2) component of the 2011-2012 influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere.
Influenza B [0]
No influenza B viruses from the Texas DSHS Laboratory have been characterized since
the 2010-2011 season.
The national antigenic characterization and antiviral resistance testing results may be found in the CDC weekly flu report at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/. The DSHS Laboratory sends a representative sample of influenza viruses to the CDC throughout the flu season.
Antiviral Resistance
The DSHS Laboratory has not received any antiviral resistance testing results from CDC so far this season.
For more information on antiviral medications please see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/index.htm.
Influenza–Associated Pediatric Mortality
No influenza-associated pediatric fatalities were reported during week 6. One influenza-associated pediatric fatality has been reported in Texas since the beginning of the 2011-2012 influenza season. Please see the table below for more information.
Month of pediatric death
|
Influenza Type A
|
Total Influenza Type B
|
Total,
All Influenza Types and Subtypes
|
Subtypes
|
Total Influenza A, All Subtypes
|
2009 H1N1
|
Other H1N1
|
H3N2
|
Not Subtyped
|
2011
|
October
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
November
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
December
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2012
|
January
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
| February |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Total
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
Cases of influenza-associated pediatric mortality (children <18 years of age) are reportable year-round and by law in Texas. Please see http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/investigation/conditions/ for more information.
School Closures and Institutional Outbreaks
No school closures or institutional outbreaks due to ILI or influenza were reported during week 6. Information on the control of influenza in various settings may be found on the CDC website athttp://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/.
U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network
Fifty-three 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 6. Of the 53 providers who saw patients, 34 (64%) saw at least one patient with ILI. Of all patient visits during this week, 3.98% were due to ILI. The Texas ILI baseline is 5.87% for the 2011–2012 season. The ILI baseline for HHS Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) of the United States is 4.3% for the 2011–2012 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. The baselines displayed on the graph below were calculated for the official influenza reporting season only (approximately October to May).
Percentage of Visits for Influenza–Like Illness Reported by
the US Outpatient Influenza–Like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) in Texas
2/16/2012 2:19:00 PM
Week
|
# Reports
|
Age
0-4
|
Age
5-24
|
Age
25-49
|
Age
50-64
|
Age
65 +
|
Total
ILI
|
Total
Patients
|
%
ILI
|
2011-40
|
70
|
188
|
297
|
202
|
58
|
18
|
763
|
27935
|
2.73%
|
2011-41
|
69
|
200
|
243
|
181
|
52
|
12
|
688
|
28089
|
2.45%
|
2011-42
|
71
|
202
|
305
|
196
|
62
|
19
|
784
|
26341
|
2.98%
|
2011-43
|
69
|
223
|
304
|
225
|
50
|
17
|
819
|
27504
|
2.98%
|
2011-44
|
69 |
201 |
298 |
187 |
56 |
13 |
755 |
27209 |
2.77% |
2011-45
|
70 |
233 |
296 |
234 |
53 |
24 |
840 |
27898 |
3.01% |
2011-46
|
65 |
228 |
314 |
250 |
71 |
24 |
887 |
27769 |
3.19% |
2011-47
|
67 |
211 |
229 |
197 |
48 |
23 |
708 |
22076 |
3.21% |
2011-48
|
63 |
234 |
257 |
207 |
66 |
22 |
786 |
25349 |
3.10% |
2011-49
|
62 |
235 |
191 |
134 |
39 |
25 |
624 |
19365 |
3.22% |
2011-50
|
62 |
219 |
253 |
198 |
62 |
20 |
752 |
23223 |
3.24% |
2011-51
|
59 |
241 |
208 |
207 |
66 |
30 |
752 |
21079 |
3.57% |
| 2011-52 |
60 |
187 |
191 |
209 |
83 |
16 |
686 |
20449 |
3.35% |
| 2012-01 |
65 |
216 |
222 |
212 |
48 |
18 |
716 |
25014 |
2.86% |
| 2012-02 |
64 |
203 |
244 |
172 |
69 |
32 |
720 |
24780 |
2.91% |
| 2012-03 |
63 |
223 |
286 |
210 |
49 |
21 |
789 |
24846 |
3.18% |
| 2012-04 |
64 |
197 |
323 |
189 |
62 |
11 |
782 |
24998 |
3.13% |
| 2012-05 |
59 |
265 |
347 |
210 |
70 |
17 |
909 |
22592 |
4.02% |
| 2012-06 |
53 |
225 |
256 |
120 |
22 |
12 |
635 |
15940 |
3.98% |
National Influenza Activity Map
The current U.S. flu weekly report (FluView) may be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm.
International Influenza Activity Map
The CDC compiles information from several sources and releases an international influenza summary. This report can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/international/activity.htm.
1Influenza activity level corresponds to current MMWR week only and does not reflect previous weeks' activity.
2The majority of influenza cases are not reportable by law to the Texas Department of State Health Services. This map contains data from sentinel sites and does not represent all influenza cases in the state.
3Positive laboratory results are reported according to specimen collection date or date received in the lab if the former is unknown.
2011 - 2012 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information --- Flu Reports
For the week ending: 10/08/11; 10/15/11; 10/22/11; 10/29/11; 11/05/11; 11/12/11;
11/17/11; 11/24/11; 12/03/11; 12/11/11; 12/18/11; 12/25/11; 12/31/11; 1/7/12;
1/14/12; 1/21/12; 1/28/12; 2/4/12; 2/11/12;
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