Erie County, NY Department of Health » Erie County Influenza Surveillance

Erie County Influenza Surveillance

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COUNTY OF ERIE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

MARK POLONCARZ, COUNTY EXECUTIVE

GALE R. BURSTEIN, MD, MPH, COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH

January 16, 2014

HEALTH ADVISORY # 312

ERIE COUNTY INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE

Please distribute to the Healthcare Providers, Infection Control Department,

Emergency Department, Employee Health Service, Infectious Disease Department,

Director of Nursing, Medical Director, Laboratory Service, and all patient care areas.

SUMMARY

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) collects, compiles, and analyzes information on influenza activity and generates a weekly report during the influenza season (October through the following May). This report contains county, state, and national influenza information. Also included in the report is sentinel provider data from seven Erie County Urgent Care Facilities, comprised of four MASH and three WNY Immediate Care sites. These sentinel providers submit specimens for influenza testing (A/H1, A/H3, A/H3, B, H1N1) and additional respiratory pathogens including RSV, Adenovirus, Human Metapneumovirus, and Parainfluenza types 1-4). ECDOH urges providers to review the ERIE COUNTY INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING January 11, 2014, to remain current on local influenza and respiratory pathogen activity.

INFLUENZA WEBSITES

Erie County: http://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=epidemiology-amp-disease-controlI

New York State: http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/surveillance

CDC Influenza: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivitysurv.htm

The ECDOH Health Alert & Advisory System is an e-mail notification system designed to alert community partners about important health related information. You can sign up to receive alerts & advisories at http://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=node/59.

Health Category Definitions:

  • Health Alert FLASH: conveys the highest level of importance due to a large-scale, catastrophic public health emergency; warrants immediate action or attention
  • Health Alert Priority: conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention to a health problem or situation
  • Health Advisory: provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action
  • Health Update: provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; no immediate action necessary

The Erie County Department of Health does not provide medical advice. The information provided on the Erie County Department of Health website is not an attempt to practice medicine and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your personal physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or issue. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the content found on the Erie County Department of Health website or this correspondence.