RESP-LENS Interactive Dashboard

The Respiratory Virus Laboratory Emergency Department Network Surveillance (RESP-LENS) dashboard reports laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RESP-LENS collects information from the electronic medical records of patients who visit a participating emergency department (ED) with acute respiratory illness (ARI). RESP-LENS relies on respiratory virus laboratory testing ordered by a health care provider and reports number of tests ordered and percent positive for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV. RESP-LENS consists of 24 sites/health systems with a total of more than 100 participating hospitals located in 20 states and the District of Columbia. There is at least one site in each of the 10 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regions. These sites report data for an average of approximately 11,000 ED visits weekly that are associated with ARI, of which an average of 4,000 a week are associated with children younger than 18 years. Data displayed on the RESP-LENS interactive dashboard will be updated weekly.

This surveillance system provides timely data on the primary viruses causing ARI and how each virus’s activity might vary over time and by age group. The percent positivity metric can be used to follow trends and comparisons of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza, and RSV activity in different age groups and geographic areas (HHS Regions) of the United States. RESP-LENS serves as a valuable tool for public health and health care professionals, allowing users to visualize and understand trends in virus circulation, estimate disease burden, and respond to outbreaks, informing decisions and strategies for protecting public health.