2009 - 2010 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information

Influenza Surveillance Report for MMWR Week 40

The influenza (flu) activity level for Texas for the week ending October 10, 2009 was “widespread.” For definitions of flu activity levels please see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm. During week 40, 1,029 (31.8%) 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 above the regional baseline during week 40.

Reports from Health Service Regions

Laboratory Results

Additional influenza test results (rapid tests, culture, PCR) were reported from providers and public health departments throughout the state (see county map below).

Novel Influenza A Virus Infections

Please see the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) novel influenza website (http://www.texasflu.org) and the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/) for more information. Data collection for confirmed novel influenza A (H1N1) hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and deaths began in Texas on September 20, 2009. Forty-seven confirmed novel influenza A (H1N1) deaths were reported in Texas residents and one child from Mexico who died in HSR 6/5S prior to September 20, 2009 (these deaths are included in the cumulative data table below). The table below summarizes the current data by Health Service Region. For more data, please see www.dshs.state.tx.us/txflu/splash/news_media.html.

Antigenic Characterization

Influenza A (H1N1) [8]

• All 8 viruses were characterized as A/California/07/2009-like (H1N1), the reference virus selected by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the vaccine strain for the novel influenza A (H1N1) vaccine.

• No influenza A (H3N2) viruses from Texas have been characterized since April 15, 2009.

• No seasonal influenza A (H1N1) viruses from Texas have been characterized since April 15, 2009.

Victoria lineage [0]
• No influenza B viruses from Texas have been characterized since April 15, 2009.
  Yamagata lineage [0]
• No influenza B viruses from Texas have been characterized since April 15, 2009.

The national antigenic characterization and antiviral resistance testing results may be found in the CDC weekly flu report at www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/. The DSHS Laboratory sends a representative sample of influenza viruses to the CDC throughout the flu season.

Antiviral Resistance

                                    *Adamantanes are not effective against influenza B viruses.

CDC has issued interim recommendations for use of antiviral medications in the 2009-10 influenza season. Those recommendations are available at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm.

Influenza–Associated Pediatric Mortality

School Closures and Institutional Outbreaks

U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network

National Influenza Activity Map

For more information on flu surveillance activities in the State of Texas, please visit our main surveillance page.

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.

2009 - 2010 Texas Influenza Surveillance Information --- Flu Reports

For the week ending: 10/10/09; 10/17/09; 10/24/09; 10/31/09; 11/07/09; 11/14/09; 11/21/09; 11/28/09; 12/05/09; 12/12/09; 12/19/09; 12/26/09; 01/02/10; 01/09/10; 01/16/10; 01/23/10; 01/30/10; 02/06/10; 02/13/10; 02/20/10; 02/27/10; 03/06/10; 03/13/10; 03/20/10; 03/27/10; 04/03/10; 04/10/10; 04/17/10; 04/24/10; 05/01/10; 05/08/10; 05/15/10; 05/22/10; 05/29/10; 06/05/10; 06/12/10; 06/19/10; 06/26/10; 07/03/10; 07/10/10; 07/17/10; 07/24/10; 07/31/10; 08/07/10; 08/14/10; 08/21/10; 08/28/10; 09/04/10; 09/11/10; 09/18/10; 09/25/10; 10/02/10;

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