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Influenza Trends Up in Central Florida in December
Sharon Sanders - Editor FluTrackers.com
January 2, 2012
**Edited to replace original quote with 2nd sentence which is a clarification this afternoon from the county epidemiologist.**
Winter Park, Florida – Reports from sentinel providers indicate that influenza and influenza-like-illness have been trending up since Thanksgiving says Dain Weister who is the Florida Department of Health spokesman for Orange and Seminole counties. After consultation with the county epidemiologist this afternoon Dain reports that the level of influenza is much higher now than this time last year, but not as high as the level attained in the 2009 pandemic flu season.
Figure 1 on the Florida Flu Review for week 52 in 2010 shows the progression of the 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Florida influenza seasons as monitored by three surveillance systems: ILINet, Bureau of Laboratories viral surveillance, and county activity levels.
The Florida Department of Health indicates "Moderate” as the current level of influenza activity in Central Florida on its website (see map 2).
Mr. Weister reported that 2 nursing homes in the Central Florida area have experienced a flu outbreak this season. Most hospitalizations have been in the 55+ age group and most emergency room visits for flu symptoms have been in the 0-19 age range.
The prevalent influenza type in the area confirmed by laboratory testing is A/H3 and A/H1N1 (H1N1pdm09) has caused some illness. Mr. Weister can reached at 407-858-1400 for further inquiries.
Sharon Sanders - Editor FluTrackers.com
January 2, 2012
**Edited to replace original quote with 2nd sentence which is a clarification this afternoon from the county epidemiologist.**
Winter Park, Florida – Reports from sentinel providers indicate that influenza and influenza-like-illness have been trending up since Thanksgiving says Dain Weister who is the Florida Department of Health spokesman for Orange and Seminole counties. After consultation with the county epidemiologist this afternoon Dain reports that the level of influenza is much higher now than this time last year, but not as high as the level attained in the 2009 pandemic flu season.
Figure 1 on the Florida Flu Review for week 52 in 2010 shows the progression of the 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Florida influenza seasons as monitored by three surveillance systems: ILINet, Bureau of Laboratories viral surveillance, and county activity levels.
The Florida Department of Health indicates "Moderate” as the current level of influenza activity in Central Florida on its website (see map 2).
Mr. Weister reported that 2 nursing homes in the Central Florida area have experienced a flu outbreak this season. Most hospitalizations have been in the 55+ age group and most emergency room visits for flu symptoms have been in the 0-19 age range.
The prevalent influenza type in the area confirmed by laboratory testing is A/H3 and A/H1N1 (H1N1pdm09) has caused some illness. Mr. Weister can reached at 407-858-1400 for further inquiries.