About
- Level: Laboratory Advisory
- Audience: Clinical Laboratory Professionals
LOCS message
The Strategy for Summer 2026 Influenza Surveillance has been published and emphasizes that surveillance for seasonal influenza viruses and monitoring for novel influenza A virus infections, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5), remain critical during the summer months. The strategy includes continued influenza testing, preferably by RT-PCR, for persons with compatible illness, especially those with relevant animal or raw animal product exposures and severely ill hospitalized patients.
Because influenza A(H5) testing should only be performed when clinical, epidemiologic, or public health response criteria are met, laboratories should follow the recommended diagnostic testing algorithm and avoid unnecessary or out-of-sequence subtyping. Deviations from recommended workflows may increase the likelihood of false-positive results and unnecessary public health investigations and response activities.
For any positive or inconclusive influenza A(H5) result or a result indicating a novel influenza virus, please immediately notify respective State Public Health Departments. Specimens will most likely be requested by the State Public Health Laboratory or CDC for additional testing and virologic characterization.
Maintaining adherence to recommended influenza testing practices remains critical to supporting routine influenza surveillance, early detection of novel influenza cases and public health response activities.
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Resources
- Bird Flu | CDC
- Accelerated Subtyping of Influenza A in Hospitalized Patients | HAN
- H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation | CDC
- Interim Guidance for Infection Control Within Healthcare Settings When Caring for Confirmed Cases, Probable Cases, and Cases Under Investigation for Infection with Novel Influenza A Viruses Associated with Severe Disease | CDC
- Case Definitions for Investigations of Human Infection with Avian Influenza A Viruses in the United States | CDC
- Interim Guidance for Employers to Reduce Exposure to Avian Influenza A Viruses for People Working with Animals | CDC
- First H5 Bird Flu Death Reported in United States | CDC Newsroom
Contact Us
Please use the information below if you have any questions.
- If you are a clinical or public health laboratory professional, contact LOCS.
- For media inquiries, contact the CDC Newsroom.
- For all other questions, contact CDC-INFO.
Thank you,
The Laboratory Outreach Communication System
Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS)
Office of Laboratory Systems and Response (OLSR)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
LOCS@cdc.gov
www.cdc.gov/locs/php/about