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March 25, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-16-19

For week #11 (ending 3-16-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), was elevated during Week #11.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased slightly to 26% from 25.8% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baselines, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels into April, however none of the numbers...

March 21, 2019Read more...

Measles Cases Continue to Escalate throughout 15 States in the U. S.

IN THE NEWS According to the CDC, in the nearly 11 weeks from Jan 1st until Mar 14, 2019, there have been 268 confirmed cases of measles throughout 15 states (compared to 127 cases in 10 states a month ago). However, since then, individual counties have posted an increase in cases as of March 19, so the number is actually a little higher now.   It is not considered an outbreak until there are three or more cases in an area; less than...

March 21, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-9-19

For week #10 (ending 3-9-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained widespread during Week #10.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly again to 25.8% from 26.1% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baselines, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels for the rest of March, however...

March 16, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-2-19

For week #09 (ending 3-2-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained widespread during Week #9.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly to 26.1% from 26.4% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels for at least a few more weeks, however...

March 5, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-23-19

For week #08 (ending 2-23-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained widespread during Week #8.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly to 26.4% from 26.7% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase, setting a new high for this flu season.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels...

March 1, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-16-19

For week #07 (ending 2-16-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to increase during week #7.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 26.7% from 24.6% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase, setting a new high for this flu season.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels...

February 20, 2019Read more...

Measles (Rubeola) in Multiple States in the United States

IN THE NEWS According to the CDC, in the seven (7) weeks since January 1st through February 14, 2019, there have been 127 confirmed cases of measles throughout ten (10) states in the United States.  However, since then, individual counties have indicated an increase in cases as of Feb 18, so the number is actually higher now.   There are currently five (5) outbreaks of Measles located in four (4) states:  multiple areas of New York State (Rockland County, Monroe Country and...

February 20, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-9-19

For week #06 (ending 2-9-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to increase with all of the markers increased during week #6.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 24.6% from 21.6% last week; all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  This indicates that this Flu Season still seems to be worsening.  The CDC expects...

February 11, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-2-19

For week #05 (ending 2-2-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to increase with almost all of the severity markers increased during week #5.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 21.6% from 19.2% last week; all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  This indicates that this Flu Season will have a second peak in...

February 6, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 1-26-19

For week #04 (ending 1-26-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), increased again.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 19.2% from 16.1% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  This may indicate that this Flu Season will have a second peak in cases. Influenza A viruses were the most common found in the samples...

January 30, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 1-19-19

For week #03 (ending 1-19-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), increased.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 16.1% from 12.4% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase. Influenza A viruses were the most common found in the samples tested, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most dominant, except in Region 4 (the Southeast), which again...

January 23, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 1-12-19

For week #02 (ending 1-12-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained elevated.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly to 12.4% from 12.7% last week, but all 10 Regions were still reporting flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase. Influenza A viruses were the most common found in the samples tested, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most dominant, except in Region...

January 14, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 1-5-19

For week #01 (ending 1-5-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained elevated.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 12.7% from 13.7% last week, but all 10 Regions were reporting flu levels above baseline and the number of cases of ILI and Flu continued to increase, as did hospitalizations. Influenza A viruses were the most common found in the samples tested, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most dominant,...

January 8, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 12-29-18

For week #52 (ending 12-29-18) the CDC reported that influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to increase.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 13.7% from 15.6% last week, but all Regions were reporting flu levels above baseline and the number of cases of ILI and Flu continued to increase, as did hospitalizations. Influenza A viruses are the most common found in sample testing, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most dominant,...

January 7, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 12-22-18

For week #51 (ending 12-22-18) the CDC reported that influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness) continued to increase.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 15.6% from 11.0% last week. Influenza A viruses are the most common found in sample testing, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most dominant, except for Region 4 (the Southeast), which again had A(H3N2) dominate.  Influenzas A (H1N1), A (H2N2) and Influenza B viruses tested were considered to...

January 7, 2019Read more...

Ebola

IN THE NEWS There are new items to report regarding the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): On December 29, the Nebraska Medical Center, located in Omaha, put out a news release that they had accepted a role in monitoring an American healthcare worker (HCW) who had been providing medical care in the DRC and had a possible exposure to the Ebola Virus.  This HCW was transported by private plane and car with the coordination with county,...

December 29, 2018Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 12-15-18

For week #50 (ending 12-15-18) the CDC reported that influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness) increased and the threshold has been reached met to indicate that the 2018-19 Seasonal Flu season has begun.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu more than quadrupled from last week to 11.0%. Influenza A viruses are the most common virus found in sample testing, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most common, except for Region 4 (the Southeast), which...

December 29, 2018Read more...

Updates on the Outbreaks of Ebola Virus Disease, Acute Flaccid Myelitis, and E Coli O157:H7

IN THE NEWS Note:  for each of these diseases, there have been previous posts to this Health Intelligence Page.  Please see those articles for background, as well as more detailed information on each disease.  You can find these articles by clicking on the button marked ‘View all Posts & Resources,’ found at the bottom of the In the News category, and then looking for the specific disease that matches the dates listed at the end of each of the diseases covered...

December 17, 2018Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 12-8-18

For week #49 (ending 12-8-18) the CDC reported that influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness) was still slightly elevated. The percentage of respiratory specimens being tested still remains low. Influenza A viruses are the most common virus found in sample testing, with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 the most common of those.  Influenza A (H2N2) and Influenza B viruses have also been found and are considered to be co-circulating.  Also, the majority of the flu viruses are matching...

November 21, 2018Read more...

United States & Canadian Health Safety Alert/Public Health Notice on 11/20/18 of E. Coli O157: H7 Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce

IN THE NEWS The CDC, Public Health Officials for multiple states, the FDA, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Provincial Health Partners, Health Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are collaborating on an investigation into a new outbreak of Shiga toxin producing E. Coli O157: H7 in 11 states (32 cases with 13 hospitalizations) and 2 provinces (18 confirmed cases with 5 hospitalizations).  The US and Canada are each reporting one (1) case each of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a...