Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

One flu death was reported during week 5, altogether 25 flu deaths have been reported since October of 2010.

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www.twitter.com/hniman

Week 5 report STILL has not updated the hospitalized cases since week 1

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www.twitter.com/hniman

Summary

Influenza activity was on the increase in Pennsylvania during week 5

(week ending February 5, 2011). Below is a summary of week 5 flu activity:



Influenza (flu) activity continued to be WIDESPREAD during week 05. Influenza has now been reported in all counties of the state.
4% of all outpatient Visits to doctors reported by sentinel physicians were for flu-like illnesses (IILI), slightly lower than 5% reported the previous week but above the state baseline (2.4%).
Emergency Department (ED) were elevated throughout the state.
5 Influenza outbreaks in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) were reported during week 5, down from 17 outbreaks reported the previous week. Fifty nine outbreaks have been reported since the begining of October 2010.
1 655 flu cases were reported, a 38% increase from 1197 cases reported the previous week. While all regions of the state reported increased flu activity, significant increases were reported in the southeast, southcentral and northcentral regions.
Nearly 80% of all specimens tested for influenza at the state lab were positive. Specimens tested at the state lab are mostly from people with influenza-like illness(ILI). This high positivity suggests that most people presenting with ILI at this time have the flu.
Influenza type A continues to account for a majority (90%) of flu cases reported with flu type B causing the other 10%.
Of the 121 influenza specimens sutyped at the state lab, 26 (21%) were the 2009 A/H1N1, 24 (28%) A/H3, 34 (28%) were untyped influenza type A and 8 (7%) influenza type B.
There was a 40% increase in influenza A/H3N2 cases reported in pennsylvania between week 4 and 5 (395 to 555) while the number of 2009 A/H1N1 flu cases nearly doubled (84 to 161) during the same period.
One flu death was reported during week 5, altogether 25 flu deaths have been reported since October of 2010. Less than 20 flu deaths are reported by January during most flu seasons (except last year when the pandemic A/H1N1 circulated). These deaths may be an underestimate of all flu-related deaths because not all deaths are reported to the state and there may be a delay in reporting some deaths.
Eventhough the elderly (people over 65 years) account for only 14% of all flu cases reported so far, they account for more than half of all hospitalizations and deaths.
Influenza activity among health adults aged 25 to 49 years is on the increase, this is now the most affected age group followed by the elderly.
Influenza activity is likely to continue increasing over the next few weeks.
Most of the recent influenza hospitalizatons and deaths were in people who had no recent history of influenza vaccination.
Getting vaccinated is the first and best way to prevent flu, and Pennsylvania Department of Health continues to recommend vaccination at this time. As long as flu season isn’t over, it’s not too late to get vaccinated.
Flu vaccines are readily available this season and the vaccine is well matched to the circulating strains. The flu vaccine is good for anyone above 6 months of age. For information on influenza vaccination go to, flufreepa.com

_________________
www.twitter.com/hniman

Table 2: County Distribution of all Influenza Cases Reported in Pennsylvania this season By Flu type, 10/05/2010-02/05/2011 (#=5559)**




Influenza Type
TOTAL

A
B
S
U

County
60
5
2
.
67

ADAMS

ALLEGHENY
214
108
37
42
401

ARMSTRONG
23
7
.
1
31

BEAVER
27
24
.
.
51

BEDFORD
18
5
.
1
24

BERKS
79
5
2
.
86

BLAIR
49
3
.
.
52

BRADFORD
19
9
.
.
28

BUCKS
188
7
1
.
196

BUTLER
43
11
2
.
56

CAMBRIA
18
.
.
.
18

CAMERON
2
.
.
1
3

CARBON
30
6
.
2
38

CENTRE
149
18
27
.
194

CHESTER
130
7
1
16
154

CLARION
12
2
2
.
16

CLEARFIELD
12
7
.
1
20

CLINTON
82
2
.
.
84

COLUMBIA
33
3
1
.
37

CRAWFORD
45
1
.
.
46

CUMBERLAND
41
5
.
.
46

DAUPHIN
36
5
.
8
49

DELAWARE
133
6
4
.
143

ELK
16
2
.
.
18

ERIE
200
10
.
.
210

FAYETTE
55
16
1
.
72

FOREST
2
.
.
.
2

FRANKLIN
124
18
8
.
150

FULTON
15
1
.
.
16

GREENE
18
4
.
.
22

HUNTINGDON
21
2
.
.
23

INDIANA
24
8
.
.
32

JEFFERSON
18
1
.
.
19

JUNIATA
28
1
.
.
29

LACKAWANNA
62
.
1
.
63

LANCASTER
154
21
7
.
182

LAWRENCE
4
2
.
.
6

LEBANON
93
.
1
.
94

LEHIGH
319
45
5
.
369

LUZERNE
204
15
2
2
223

LYCOMING
253
48
.
2
303

MCKEAN
39
.
.
1
40

MERCER
13
3
.
.
16

MIFFLIN
45
1
.
.
46

MONROE
72
.
1
2
75

MONTGOMERY
271
7
4
.
282

MONTOUR
14
1
.
.
15

NORTHAMPTON
232
18
29
1
280

NORTHUMBERLAND
57
2
1
.
60

PERRY
4
.
.
.
4

PHILADELPHIA
366
11
11
2
390

PIKE
10
1
.
.
11

POTTER
9
1
.
.
10

SCHUYLKILL
82
6
.
.
88

SNYDER
62
.
.
.
62

SOMERSET
12
1
.
2
15

SULLIVAN
4
1
.
.
5

SUSQUEHANNA
7
.
1
.
8

TIOGA
6
.
1
.
7

UNION
81
.
1
.
82

VENANGO
24
4
3
.
31

WARREN
10
.
.
.
10

WASHINGTON
72
17
.
2
91

WAYNE
4
.
.
.
4

WESTMORELAND
124
34
5
1
164

WYOMING
2
.
.
.
2

YORK
81
7
.
.
88

All
4756
555
161
87
5559

_________________
www.twitter.com/hniman

In the week 5 report, there is a big spike in H1N1 in Allegheny county (metro Pittsburgh). I went to one of my high school daughter's Jazz concerts and one school (North Allegheny in suburban Pittsburgh) pulled out because too many students were sick. They didn't say flu, but that is my guess.

In the spring of 2009 the first reported H1N1 cases in metro Pittsburgh were at the Carson Middle Schoool in the North Allegheny school district (which is a VERY large district).

I expect a rerun in the next several weeks. So far my daughter's school, Fox Chapel, hasn't seen much (but they were hit hard in the fall of 2009 when almost 50% of school age children in Metro Pittsburgh had H1N1 antibodies - prior to the vaccine).

_________________
www.twitter.com/hniman

isn't Pennsylvania's week 6 report due out today?

Yes, it usually comes out on a Tuesday, and occasionally on a Wednesday. However, no report came out for week 3 and the graph on hospitalized cases has not been updated since week 1. There are SERIOUS problems in PA which can be glossed over to some degree by delaying and combining reports.

_________________
www.twitter.com/hniman

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

Pennsylvania Week 6 ....

#
Nearly 80% of all specimens tested for influenza at the state lab were positive. Specimens tested at the state lab are mostly from people with influenza-like illness(ILI). This high positivity suggests that most people presenting with ILI at this time have the flu.
#
Influenza type A continues to account for a majority (80%) of flu cases reported with flu type B causing the other 20%.
#
Of the 45 influenza specimens sutyped at the state lab during week 6, a majority, (27/60%) were the 2009 A/H1N1, 13(29%) were the seasonal A/H3N2, 2 (4%) were untyped influenza type A and 3 (7%) were influenza type B. There has been an increase in 2009 A/H1N1 flu cases during the last two weeks.
#
In addition to seasonal viruses, two unrelated infections with a swine origin influenza A/H3N2 virus have been identified in Pennsylvania with onset dates in September 2010 and October 2010. In recent years this virus has also produced human illness elsewhere in the country, generally in association with direct contact with ill pigs. It has not been associated with person-to-person transmission. Clinicians should remain alert to the possibility of infection with this virus in persons with influenza-like illness who have a history of recent exposure to swine populations, and collect appropriate diagnostic specimens.
#
Five flu deaths were reported during week 6, including one deaths in a child. Altogether 32 flu deaths have been reported since October of 2010. Less than 20 flu deaths are reported by January during most flu seasons (except last year when the pandemic A/H1N1 circulated). These deaths may be an underestimate of all flu-related deaths because not all deaths are reported to the state and there may be a delay in reporting some deaths.
#
Even though the elderly (people over 65 years) account for only 14% of all flu cases reported so far, they account for more than half of all hospitalizations and deaths.
#
Influenza activity among health adults aged 25 to 49 years is on the increase, this is now the most affected age group followed by the elderly.
#
Influenza activity is likely to continue increasing over the next few weeks.
#
Most of the recent influenza hospitalizations and deaths were in people who had no recent history of influenza vaccination.

Once gain, the hospitalization graph was NOT updated and the week 1 graph was published in the week 6 report

_________________
www.twitter.com/hniman

deleted my post ... reread week 6 report and it was clear on the 2nd reading.