Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

Philadelphia higher than Pittsburgh

http://www.google.org/flutrends/us/#1025197

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No new updates

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/se ... 490&mode=2

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Still no new updates. Flu season in northern hemisphere begins with week 40, which ended October 8.

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No reports for 2011/2012 season (week 41, 2nd week of the new season, ended Oct 15).

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Update from PA DoH
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/se ... 032&rank=3

All three children reported attending the Washington County Agricultural Fair the week of August 13-20, 2011. The children had onset dates ranging from August 18-21. All three children have fully recovered from their respiratory illness. Of the three children, one was hospitalized; one never sought health care, while the other was evaluated in an emergency department and discharged.
The three cases in Pennsylvania are similar to previous, rare human infections with swine-origin H3N2 viruses, but the infecting strain is unique in that it contains a genetic segment from the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus. However, the patients experienced typical influenza-like illness.
A continuing investigation, which is being jointly undertaken by the departments of Health and Agriculture, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has not yet determined how the illness was transmitted to the three individuals.

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Still no updates. Maine has already posted week 43, which has their 2nd trH3N2 case in October. PA has filed no reports for October. Last report covered the first two weeks in September.

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Vaccination against influenza provides a potent and cost-effective counter-measure to the threat of both seasonal and pandemic outbreaks. Licensed seasonal influenza vaccines are only partially protective, particularly in the elderly and young children. In April 2009, a new pandemic strain of H1N1 influenza emerged and spread rapidly throughout the globe [1]. A second wave of pandemic H1N1 swept through the United States. Our research group previously characterized the seroprevalence of people living in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania as the epidemic peaked in late-October in a largely unvaccinated community [7]. Seroprevalences against pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza varied by age group, with children age 10–19 years having the highest seroprevalence (45%), and persons age 70–79 years having the lowest (5%). The baseline seroprevalence among control samples from 18–24 year-olds was 6%. Measurement of the seroprevalence of influenza immunity provides valuable information about the likelihood of possible influenza spread, vaccine effectiveness and may be useful in decision-making about immunization strategies.

http://knol.google.com/k/ted-m-ross/pre ... k4m6bk/10#

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Summary of flu activity, season-to-date, 10/2/11-11/12/11
· October 2nd marked the beginning of the 2011/12 influenza surveillance season; the week ending October 8th was the first surveillance week for the season but it’s called week 40. Therefore, the week ending November 12th was week 45.

· During the week ending of November 12, influenza activity was very sporadic in Pennsylvania.

· 1% (1 in 100) of all doctor-visits reported by sentinel physicians during the past week were attributed to influenza-like illnesses (ILI), which is below threshold (2.4%).

· Flu-related Emergency Department (ED) visits remain low in all regions of the state.

· Only 42% of all 256 specimens tested for 8 respiratory viruses at the state lab were positive; a majority (79%) were positive for human rhinovirus and adenovirus—only were positive for influenza.

· Twelve (12) cases of lab confirmed influenza were reported during week 45, up from 7 reported the previous week. 21 cases were reported during the same period last season.

· Two flu-related hospitalizations were reported during week 45, 7 have been reported season-to-date. Three hospitalizations were reported during week 3 of last season.

· Two flu-related flu outbreaks in long term care facilities have been reported this season

· No flu-related fatality has been reported this season.

· A majority of influenza viruses reported so far are type A 29 (54%) vs. 25 (46%) flu type B

· More than half (3/54%) of the viruses subtyped by the state lab are the influenza A/H3N2. the other 3 were unsubtypeable influenza type A.

· Flu viruses characterized to date by CDC are similar to the strains included in the 2011-12 influenza vaccine.

· Getting vaccinated is still the most important thing one can do to prevent the flu and now, while flu activity is low, is a good time to get vaccinated.

· The Pennsylvania Department of Health is collaborating with the Hospital and Health System association of Pennsylvania and other partners in urging all healthcare personnel to get vaccinated. Institutions achieving HCP vaccination rates of 90% or better are encouraged to contact the Department of Health. For additional information, including a toolkit to assist administrators in achieving the goal of universal HCW influenza vaccination, visit: http://www.haponline.org/quality/resour ... -campaign/ and http://pahcwfluvax.org/. A poster and video for encouraging hcw vaccination may be downloaded at Earn Your Stripes Video or ordered by contacting owsimwale@state.pa.us.

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