· Overall, influenza activity decreased during week 19; the number of outbreaks of flu in long term care facilities also declined.
· One hundred (157) lab positive influenza cases were reported duirng week 19, down from 200 cases reported the previous week. The number of reported cases declined in all regions of the state.
· 0.3% (less than 1 in 100) of all doctor-visits reported by sentinel physicians were attributed to influenza-like illnesses (ILI), down from 0.4% reported during week 16 and far below the threshold (2.4%).
· Flu-related Emergency Department (ED) remain low in all regions.
· Influenza viruses were detected in a tenth (10%) of respiratory specimens which were submitted to the state lab for confirmatory testing, down from 11% positivity the week before.
· 2, 217 total cases have been reported season-to-date. Last season, a total of 19, 095 cases had been reported by this time. The burden of illness reported so far continues to be much lighter than what was seen last season.
· Nine (9) flu-related hospitalizations were reported during week 19, down from 14 reported the week before. Altogether, 214 hospitalizations have been reported season-to-date vs. 1, 569 total hospitalizations which had been reported by this time last season.
· No flu-related death was reported during week 19, 11 total deaths have been reported vs. 86 flu-related deaths reported by this time last season.
· Two flu-related outbreaks were reported during week 19; down from 3 reported the week before. Altogether 23 outbreaks have been reported this season. Most of the outbreaks in long term care facilities have been associated with the A/H3 virus subtypes, which commonly causes severe disease and outcomes among the elderly. Testing of the A/H3 viruses associated with these outbreaks by the state lab has not shown any evidence of resistance to antiviral medications.
· Of the 254 influenza viruses confirmed and subtyped at the state lab this season; 125/49% were influenza A (H3N2) viruses, 53/21% influenza A (H1N1) viruses, 70/28% influenza B and 5/2% were untypeable influenza type A.
· 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/mmwrhtml/mm6047a3.htm?s_cid=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.
· 27 hospitals and 12 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/resources/flu-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.
