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Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update

Week ending October 19, 2002-Week 42

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The following information may be quoted:

Synopsis:

During week 42 (October 13-19, 2002)*, none of the specimens tested by World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) laboratories were positive for influenza. The proportion of patient visits to sentinel providers for influenza-like illness (ILI) overall was 1.1%, which is less than the national baseline of 1.9%. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was 6.0%. Ten state and territorial health departments reported sporadic influenza activity and 39 reported no influenza activity**.

Laboratory Surveillance*:

During week 42, WHO and NREVSS laboratories reported 671 specimens tested for influenza viruses. No influenza isolates were identified. Since September 29, WHO and NREVSS laboratories have tested a total of 2,306 specimens for influenza viruses. One influenza A (H1N1) isolate was identified in North Carolina.

Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance:

During week 42, the percentage of all deaths due to pneumonia and influenza as reported by the vital statistics offices of 122 U.S. cities was 6.0%. This percentage is below the epidemic threshold of 6.9% for week 42.

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Influenza-like Illness Surveillance *:

During week 42, 1.1% of patient visits to U.S. sentinel providers were due to ILI. This percentage is less than the national baseline of 1.9%. On a regional level***, the percentage of visits for ILI ranged from 0.0% to 1.9%. Due to wide variability in regional level data, it is not appropriate to apply the national baseline to regional level data.

Influenza Activity as Assessed by State and Territorial Epidemiologists**:

Influenza activity was reported as sporadic in 10 states (Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and West Virginia) and Washington, D.C. Thirty-nine states and New York City reported no influenza activity and 1 state did not report.

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* Reporting is incomplete for this week. Numbers may change as more reports are received.

** Influenza activity is defined as influenza-like illness and/or culture-confirmed influenza.

*** Surveillance Regions: New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island); Mid-Atlantic (New Jersey, New York City, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York); East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin); West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota); South Atlantic (Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia); East South Central (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee); West South Central (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas); Mountain (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming); Pacific (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington)

Report prepared October 24, 2002

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