Re: Washington--Week 13 - Two new deaths (total 98)
Re: Washington--Week 13 - Two new deaths (total 98)
Week 12:
One new death; total 96
Summary:
? Influenza activity in Washington is very low.
? From September 19, 2009?March 27, 2010, the Washington State Department of Health received reports of 1402 hospitalized and 80 deceased patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza. Four hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza became ill in the past 4 weeks.
? During February 28?March 20 (weeks 9?11), 6 (
1.1%) of the specimens tested by the World Health Organization/National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (WHO/NREVSS) collaborating laboratories in Washington were
positive for influenza. Four of these specimens were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses and two were influenza A viruses of unknown subtype.
? The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) remains below the state baseline.
Four hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza became ill in the past 4 weeks. Of these patients, 3 reside west and 1 resides east of the Cascade Mountains. (Western Washington and eastern Washington are defined as residing west or east of the Cascade Mountains.)
(PHRAID): Eight laboratories and clinics located in 6 counties in Washington regularly report the total number of influenza tests performed and the total number positive for influenza A and B each week through PHRAID. During CDC Week 12 (3/21?3/27), three facilities reported 0 (0%) influenza positive specimens out of 46 tests conducted.
Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) Data
During CDC Week 12, 6 sentinel providers in Washington reported data to CDC. Of 608 patient visits, 14 patients
(2.3%) met the case definition for influenza-like illness
For week 12, emergency departments reported 65 ILI visits (0.98%) out of 6603 total patient visits.
During CDC Week 11, 25 (8.0%) of 311 deaths in Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma were due to pneumonia or influenza (P&I).
http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/Epidemiology/CD/fluupdate.pdf
Seattle and King County
* Emergency department (ED) visits for influenza like illness (ILI) have held steady for over three months, after declining from a peak in fall.
* No King County residents were hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza in week 12. There were three laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations with onset of illness in February; all were influenza B. There have been two laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations with onset of illness in March; both have been 2009 H1N1.
* No laboratory-confirmed influenza deaths have occurred in King County residents since mid-February.
* The percentage of specimens testing positive for influenza from our outpatient surveillance system is below the average proportion observed at this time of year.
* The percentage of rapid antigen tests positive for influenza is below the average proportion observed this time of year.
* Thirteen long-term care facilities reported cases of influenza like illness in their facilities from mid-October through early January. No reports of influenza like illness in long-term care facilities have been received since early January.
* School absenteeism has been low and stable in recent weeks, with the majority of schools reporting <10% of students absent.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/immunization/fluactivity.aspx
