Influenza Weekly Report

Last Updated: June 5, 2008

Sporadic

Isolated cases of lab confirmed influenza in the state; Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) activity is not increased. Or a lab confirmed outbreak in a single institution (nursing home, hospital, prison, school, etc) in the state; ILI activity is not increased.

Local

Increased ILI within a single district and recent (within the past 3 weeks) laboratory evidence of influenza in that district. ILI activity in other districts is not increased. Or two or more institutional outbreaks (ILI or lab confirmed) within a single district and recent (within the past 3 weeks) lab confirmed influenza in that district. Other districts do not have increased ILI and virus activity is no greater than sporadic in those districts.

Regional

Increased ILI in > 2 but less than half of the districts and recent (within the past 3 weeks) lab confirmed influenza in the affected districts. Or institutional outbreaks (ILI or lab confirmed) in > 2 and less than half of the districts and recent lab confirmed influenza in the affected districts.

Widespread

Increased ILI and/or institutional outbreaks (ILI or lab confirmed) in at least half of the districts and recent (within the past 3 weeks) lab confirmed influenza in the state.

The Georgia Department of Public Health tracks cases of influenza (flu) throughout the State with the help of volunteer sentinel providers. While each individual case of flu is not reportable to health authorities, we monitor flu activity by watching the percent of providers' visits that are for "influenza-like illness." When these providers' visits for "influenza-like illnesses" begin to increase compared to background levels, we suspect that influenza is active in an area. Data are subject to change due to incomplete reporting at the time of the posting.

The Georgia Department of Public Health observes the presenting complaints of patients visiting hospital emergency departments and ambulatory care centers throughout the State on a daily basis; this is called syndromic surveillance as these complaints are classified into syndromes. We monitor flu activity by watching the percent of visits from these healthcare facilities for an "influenza-like illness" syndrome. When these facilities visits for "influenza-like illness" begin to increase compared with background levels, we suspect that influenza is active in an area.