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Welcome to ADPH's Influenza Surveillance website. ADPH is monitoring which strains are circulating and where disease activity is occurring.
The CDC has information on What You Should Know For the 2012-2013 Influenza Season.
ADPH has a list of 10 things you can do to fight the flu.
Influenza in Alabama
The 2012-13 Influenza season was rather severe compared to the 2011-12 Influenza season. Of 780 specimens submitted to the Bureau of Clinical Laboratories (BCL) between October 2012 and May 2013, 479 (61.4%) were positive for influenza. The majority were Influenza A, H3 subtype (86.6%) with 12.3% positive for Influenza B, and 1.0% positive for Influenza A, 2009 H1N1. Increased ILI activity was reported for 42.4% of the influenza season. The influenza season peaked between the end of November and the end of January in which the greatest number of positive specimens was collected and ILI activity was at its highest. The last positive influenza specimen for the 2011-12 season was received April 9, 2013. Influenza surveillance continues throughout the summer.
Overall influenza-like illness is below Alabama's threshold representing significant activity. No specimens were received by the Bureau of Clinical Laboratories (BCL) for week ending May 18, 2013. Click on the influenza surveillance map below to view the most recent activity. (NOTE: Data given here is provided by healthcare providers who participate in the influenza surveillance network(s). Data does not reflect total influenza cases in Alabama.)
Graph displaying influenza-like illness and positive influenza specimens submitted to the BCL
Influenza Surveillance Map - Hover over counties to view subtypes identified.
Influenza Control and Outbreak Guidelines
Influenza-Like Illness (ILI)
As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's U.S. Outpatient Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet), Alabama has recruited 84 healthcare providers to report the number of patients with ILI by age group and the total number of patients seen for the week. These providers are located in every public health area and almost every county. ILI is defined as fever that is greater than or equal to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) AND cough and/or sore throat. There is no requirement for a positive influenza test (in the absence of a known cause other than influenza) when determining the number of patients with ILI.
Viral Surveillance
ADPH's Specimen Submitting Network (SpeciNet) is a network of physician practices, hospitals, and community health centers from all over the state volunteering to submit specimens from ILI patients to the Alabama Bureau of Clinical Laboratories (BCL) for influenza detection and subtype information. To date, 109 healthcare providers have enrolled in SpeciNet. ADPH requests that hospitals submit specimens for admitted patients with ILI and all physicians submit specimens for pregnant patients with ILI as well as recent international travelers with ILI.
If you are interested in becoming an ILINet or SpeciNet participant, please email the Division of Epidemiology, call 1-800-338-8374, or complete and fax the ADPH Influenza Surveillance Reporting Network (SRN) Application.
Information for Health Professionals
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