2009-2010 influenza surveillance summaries

• Emergency department (ED) visits for influenza like illness (ILI) have been decreasing for two consecutive weeks, and were back down to the range observed during the spring 2009 H1N1 outbreak for the week ending 11/14/09.
• Hospital admissions for 2009 H1N1 flu currently exceed levels seen at the height of the spring outbreak, though the number of reported hospitalizations has been decreasing for the past few weeks.
• Two deaths in people confirmed to have 2009 H1N1 influenza occurred in week 45 (11/8/09 to 11/14/09). Two additional 2009 H1N1 deaths have occurred since 11/14/09. All of these individuals had underlying health conditions.
• The percentage of specimens testing positive for influenza from our outpatient surveillance system has decreased for the past two weeks.
• The proportion of deaths due to pneumonia and influenza has been below the epidemic threshold since mid-September.
• Ten long-term care facilities have reported cases of influenza-like illness in their facilities since mid-October.
• School absenteeism has been fairly stable for the last several weeks.

See current surveillance and testing guidelines for 2009 H1N1 influenza.