Influenza Surveillance Information

Human infections with a novel swine-origin influenza H3N2 have been reported in five states. Some of the cases did not have exposure to swine and investigation has suggested person-person transmission. Orange County Public Health has started enhanced surveillance for this novel virus in our community. See the Enhanced Surveillance for Novel Swine Origin Influenza H3N2 notice for more information. See www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu for updates on the situation.

Eye on Influenza Newsletter

Seasonal Influenza Information (last updated 12/16/2011)
Annual influenza epidemics follow a winter seasonal pattern in the United States with typical activity peaking during late December to March. Surveillance of influenza activity is important to guide prevention and control activities, vaccine strain selection, and patient care. In addition, surveillance activities help to monitor and prepare for the impact of influenza on the healthcare system. Influenza surveillance in California is particularly important to monitor for importation of novel strains of influenza due to our coastal location with several ports of entry for flights and shipping from Asia, as well as our other international borders.

Surveillance for influenza activity in Orange County includes the monitoring of the following components year-round:

influenza viruses: specimens are submitted from participating hospitals, physicians, and laboratories for tracking and strain-typing
influenza-like illnesses: sentinel providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) report outpatient influenza-like illnesses and submit specimens
pneumonia and influenza deaths: death certificates are reviewed for deaths from pneumonia or influenza
emergency room saturation: the hours that emergency rooms are "on diversion" or closed to new patients because of saturation
severe influenza and deaths: are reported by health care providers and hospital infection control professionals
outbreaks of respiratory illness: are investigated and control measures are instituted.
enhanced surveillance for avian influenza: health care providers are requested to report any patients with fever and respiratory symptoms who traveled to Asia in the 7 days prior to symptom onset

In addition, data on hospital admissions for pneumonia and influenza from one Orange County hospital is included in the California Department of Public Health weekly influenza report. Data from all these components are analyzed weekly, summarized, and compared with state and national trends. Other enhanced surveillance may be implemented as needed similar to what was done in 2009-2010 during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

For information on statewide influenza activity, see the California Influenza Surveillance Project website.

For information on national influenza activity, see www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm.

For Physicians and Other Health Care Providers

We are actively recruiting physicians and other health care providers to participate as sentinel providers for influenza surveillance. For more information, please email: EPI@ochca.com. To receive our influenza newsletter, please email EPI@ochca.com.

Influenza Surveillance Project Case Report Form 2011-12 (for hospitals to report influenza-positive patients)

Severe Influenza Case History Form (last updated 10/2011)

Enhanced Surveillance for Human Cases of Novel Swine Origin Influenza H3N2

Additional information available on our For Physicians Page.