MEDIA RELEASE
From the Office of the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gale Burstein
Date January 17, 2014
CONTACT: Mary C. St. Mary/Mary.StMary@Erie.Gov
Phone: 716.858.4941/ Mobile: 716.253.3925
Data Shows Several “Flu” Viruses in Erie County
It is never too late to be vaccinated against the Flu!
ERIE COUNTY, NY—As part of its mandate to help protect the health of the citizens of Erie County, the Erie County Department of Health (“ECDOH”) collects, compiles, and analyzes information on influenza activity on a weekly basis during the influenza season (October through May).
These data include information from national, state and local sources concerning the prevalence of influenza (“flu”) in each area. The data from Erie County sources include surveillance data from seven urgent care facilities, including four MASH Urgent Care™ and three Western New York Immediate Care sites. As appropriate, these data are shared with local healthcare officials and providers to keep them aware of current and potential threats to the public’s health.
“The Erie County respiratory surveillance report informs health care providers and the public if specific respiratory viruses, including several Influenza strains, RSV, Adenovirus, Human Metapneumovirus, and Parainfluenza, have been identified in Erie County” states Dr. Gale Burstein, Erie County Commissioner of Health.
Burstein continues: “This information is available for the public to review on our website at www.erie.gov/health. Updated every 1-2 weeks, this report provides a snapshot of the predominant influenza and other common respiratory viruses detected in Erie County. Our surveillance activities show we are currently seeing a great deal of the H1N1 virus circulating, similar to 2009.”
For more information
- Erie County Department of Health – http://www2.erie.gov/health/
- New York State -- http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/surveillance/
- CDC Influenza -- http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivitysurv.htm
- http://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/interactive.htm
Follow the ECDOH on:
# # #