Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

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County
No. of Cases
Percent of total

ALLEGHENY
3
5.56

BEDFORD
1
1.85

BERKS
1
1.85

BLAIR
4
7.41

BUCKS
1
1.85

BUTLER
1
1.85

CAMBRIA
2
3.70

CAMERON
1
1.85

CHESTER
1
1.85

CLARION
1
1.85

CLINTON
1
1.85

CRAWFORD
4
7.41

CUMBERLAND
1
1.85

DELAWARE
2
3.70

ELK
1
1.85

FAYETTE
1
1.85

FRANKLIN
1
1.85

LACKAWANNA
1
1.85

LEHIGH
1
1.85

LYCOMING
6
11.11

MIFFLIN
1
1.85

MONROE
2
3.70

MONTGOMERY
1
1.85

NORTHAMPTON
3
5.56

PHILADELPHIA
3
5.56

PIKE
1
1.85

POTTER
1
1.85

SCHUYLKILL
1
1.85

WASHINGTON
2
3.70

WESTMORELAND
4
7.41

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Summary of flu activity, season-to-date, 10/2/11-11/26/11
· 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 and it is called week 40. Therefore, the week ending November 26th was week 47.

· Influenza activity remained sporadic during week 47.

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

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

· Just under a third (2/28%) of all respiratory specimens from people seen with ILI in outpateint-doctor visits tested positive for influenza. This means a majority of ILI, at this time, are not be caused by influenza.

· Ten (10) lab positive flu cases were reported, up from 7 reported the previous week. Seventy two (72) total cases have been reported season-to-date.

· Similar amounts of flu type A and B appear to be co circulating at this time; 6 of the 10 cases reported during week 47 were flu type A, 4 were flu type B. Season-to-date, 36 flu type A and 36 flu type B have been reported. It is usually too early to see this amount of flu B at this time – flu type B generally increases end of season. The northcentral region seems to have a lot more flu type B in circulation than other regions.

· Three flu-related hospitalization was reported during week 47, 11 have been reported season-to-date. Severity of illness in the cases reported thus far (length of stay, ICU admission rate, and fatality) appears to be similar to last season. No flu-related fatality has been reported this season.

· No flu-related outbreak was reported during week 47; two outbreaks have been reported this season.

· 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.

· One more nursing home has joined the Pennsylvania healthcare worker vaccination honor roll; we now have a total of 14 hospitals and 9 nursing homes with >90% vaccine uptake. As of November 2011, only 14 hospitals (of over 200 licensed) and 9 long term care facilities (of over 800 licensed) in Pennsylvania had achieved near universal (>90%) vaccine coverage among their staff.

· 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.

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

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Lab positive flu cases reported in Pennsylvania by county -10/2/11-11/26/11 (n=82)
County
Number of Cases

ALLEGHENY
4

ARMSTRONG
1

BEAVER
1

BEDFORD
2

BERKS
1

BLAIR
5

BUCKS
3

BUTLER
1

CAMBRIA
4

CAMERON
1

CARBON
1

CHESTER
1

CLARION
1

CLINTON
1

CRAWFORD
4

CUMBERLAND
1

DELAWARE
5

ELK
2

FAYETTE
1

FRANKLIN
3

LACKAWANNA
1

LEBANON
1

LEHIGH
1

LYCOMING
12

MIFFLIN
1

MONROE
2

MONTGOMERY
3

NORTHAMPTON
5

PHILADELPHIA
3

PIKE
1

POTTER
1

SCHUYLKILL
1

UNION
1

WASHINGTON
2

WESTMORELAND
4



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last season, 19, 190 cases of lab confirmed influenza were reported to the department of health.

Laboratory-confirmed cases represent only a fraction of the total public health burden of influenza, as most persons with the flu (even those who seek healthcare) are diagnosed presumptively and do not have lab tests performed to determine the cause of illness. We estimate that between 5 and 10 percent of the population gets the flu each year, which for Pennsylvania represents 600,000-1.3 million persons annually. CDC estimates suggest that 180-2,000 Pennsylvanians die of flu related complications every year, with most of these deaths occurring in those over 65 years of age.

Of 19, 190 cases reported last season:

· Median age was 51 (range 0-99) years

· 152 were pregnant women—a third of these (49/32%) were hospitalized and 2 died

· 101 cases of all flu reports were among health care workers.

1, 594 influenza hospitalizations were reported. The median age for hospitalizations was 51 (range 1-99) years:

· There was no evidence of vaccination in a majority of individuals who were hospitalized with the flu.

90 influenza-related deaths were reported, including 6 among children (<18 years). The median age at death was 65 (range 0-99) years.

· The elderly (>65 years) accounted for 21% of all flu cases, 45% of all hospitalizations and 55% of all deaths.

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Summary of flu activity in Pennsylvania: 10/04/11-12/10/11

· Influenza activity remained sporadic during week 50; lab confirmed influenza has now been reported in 37 of 67 counties.

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

· Flu-related Emergency Department (ED) remain low in all regions.

· Influenza was not detected in all the respiratory specimens submitted to the state lab for confirmatory testing. A majority of flu-like illnesses, at this time, are due to rhinovirus, adenovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

· Thirteen (13) lab positive flu cases were reported, up from 10 reported the previous week. One hundred and seven (107) total cases have been reported season-to-date.

· Three (4) flu-related hospitalization was reported during week 50, 18 have been reported season-to-date. Severity of illness in the cases reported thus far (length of stay, ICU admission rate, and fatality) appears to be similar to last season. No flu-related fatality has been reported this season.

· No flu-related outbreak was reported during week 50; one outbreak has been reported this season.

· Similar amounts of flu type A and B appear to be co circulating at this time.

· In addittion to seasonal flu viruses that are currently circulating, 3 rare human infections with influenza viruses of swine origin have been detected in Pennsylvania. These viruses very rarely infect humans and have not been known to be transmissible from human to human in the past. However, this virus has been detected more frequently in the last six months and recent investigations in Iowa suggest that the virus may be transmissible from human to human. Individuals with influenza-like illnesses who have had exposure to swine, directly or indirectly, should let their physicians know as such illness may be from this rare virus. Further information on this can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtm ... mm6047a3_w.

· A majority (>98%) of 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.

· 26 hospitals and 11 long term care facilities have now been inducted into Pennsylvania healthcare worker vaccination honor roll for achieving near universal (>90%) vaccine coverage among their staff.

· 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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Lab positive flu cases reported in Pennsylvania by county -10/2/11-12/10/11 (n=107)
County
No. of Cases



ALLEGHENY
4

ARMSTRONG
1

BEAVER
1

BEDFORD
2

BERKS
1

BLAIR
5

BUCKS
3

BUTLER
1

CAMBRIA
5

CAMERON
1

CARBON
1

CHESTER
1

CLARION
1

CLINTON
3

CRAWFORD
4

CUMBERLAND
1

DELAWARE
8

ELK
2

FAYETTE
1

FRANKLIN
3

LACKAWANNA
1

LANCASTER
1

LEBANON
1

LEHIGH
2

LYCOMING
22

MIFFLIN
1

MONROE
3

MONTGOMERY
3

NORTHAMPTON
7

NORTHUMBERLAND
1

PHILADELPHIA
4

PIKE
2

POTTER
2

SCHUYLKILL
1

UNION
1

WASHINGTON
2

WESTMORELAND
4

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Flu season hasn't arrived yet, but there is plenty of pneumonia in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Local pediatricians and family physicians report seeing lots of children in recent weeks with the lung infection.

"It's here earlier than usual. ... I don't know why," said Lynne Birkmeyer, M.D., a UPMC Hamot pediatrician with Your Pediatric Connection -- West, 4022 Zuck Road. "Usually there is an increase in pneumonia after there has been a rise in flu cases."

Pneumonia is a common flu complication, but people can develop it in other ways, including bacterial and viral infections other than influenza.

Read more in Monday's Erie Times-News and GoErie.com.
http://www.goerie.com/article/20111225/ ... se-in-Erie

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The above pneumonia cases in Erie, PA sound remarkably similar to an outbreak in Shelby County Indiana, several weeks ago. No cause was found.

See detail here
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=7694

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Flu season hasn't arrived yet, but there is plenty of pneumonia in northwestern Pennsylvania.


Local pediatricians and family physicians report seeing lots of children in recent weeks with the lung infection.


"It's here earlier than usual ... I don't know why," said Lynne Birkmeyer, M.D., a UPMC Hamot pediatrician with Your Pediatric Connection -- West, 4022 Zuck Road. "Usually there is an increase in pneumonia after there has been a rise in flu cases."


Pneumonia is a common flu complication, but people can develop it in other ways, including bacterial and viral infections other than influenza.


Only drug-resistant pneumonia is reportable to the Erie County Department of Health, so it's not known how many people have the illness.


Birkmeyer said her office has been seeing a higher number of pneumonia cases for about three weeks.


The good news is that most patients are being treated through doctor's offices.


"We're not seeing many pneumonia cases in the hospital," said Howard Nadworny, M.D., chief of infection control at Saint Vincent Health Center. "There is lots of pneumonia around town, though. I suspect many of these cases are viral pneumonia."


Viral pneumonia is most common among infants and young children, accounting for about 50 percent of the cases in that age group.


Bacterial pneumonia is more common among adults, though it can also be found in children. It is the more serious type of pneumonia.


"When a child gets bacterial pneumonia, their appetite goes down for solids and liquids," Birkmeyer said. "They often seem lethargic and have a productive (wet) cough."


Birkmeyer prescribes antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia, and often sees improvement in several days.


Though viral pneumonia isn't as serious, the only treatment is time and managing its symptoms, Birkmeyer said. The illness usually runs its course in two to three weeks.


Families can prevent the spread of both types of pneumonia by washing their hands, especially after using the bathroom, diapering and before eating or preparing food.


They should also clean telephones, remote controls and other devices shared by family members.


"Alcohol-based hand sanitizers work well, too," Nadworny said.


DAVID BRUCE can be reached at 870-1736 or by e-mail.

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art ... 1312249915

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Fox Chapel Area High School band went to Orlando, FL to march in Unversal Studio's parade this weekend. Multiple band members with ILI (symptoms started while in Florida prior to parade, where band has been all week) including one vomitting on bus on 20 hour trip (with MULTIPLE stops on I-95 and I-79) back to Pittsburgh (rolling in tonight with significant issues)!

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