Influenza Surveillance
Percentage of Visits for Influenza-like Illness (ILI) Reported by ILINet Sites, Kansas, October 2012-September 2013 and the Previous Two Surveillance Periods*
*ILINet sites may vary in number and type (student health, family practice, etc.) each season. Data from the previous two surveillance years are plotted according to week number corresponding to the 2012-2013 week ending date; for example, week 40 ended October 6, 2012, week 40 of 2011 ended October 8, 2011, and week 40 of 2010 ended October 9, 2010. 28 of 43 (65%) ILINet sites submitted data by the reporting deadline for the current week. |
About Influenza Surveillance in Kansas
Kansas regulations do not require health care providers to notify KDHE when a patient is diagnosed with influenza. Instead, influenza activity is measured through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet), a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state, local, and territorial health departments.
Each week, ILINet clinics determine the percentage of patients seen with Influenza-like Illness (ILI). Influenza-like illness is defined as fever (≥100°F) with cough and/or sore throat, in the absence of a known cause other than influenza. Data is collected from Sunday through Saturday of each week. Clinics are asked to submit the previous week’s data by noon each Tuesday.
The information reflects data collected for the week ending the previous Saturday. The above chart shows the percentage of ILI visits reported by week. The percentage was calculated by dividing the number of patients seen with ILI at the clinics by the total number of patients seen and multiplying by 100.
The information on this chart may change over time, as ILINet sites may adjust their data submissions, and additional submissions may be received after Tuesday’s deadline.
About Influenza Testing in Kansas
The above chart shows the number of specimens the Kansas Department of Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL) tested for influenza per week. Only specimens from outpatients visiting ILINet clinics or from hospitalized patients are tested; because not all patients are tested at KHEL, this chart may not represent the true percentage of patients infected with influenza, or the true incidence of influenza strains circulating in Kansas.
About Luminex Testing in Kansas
The above map shows the number of specimens the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL) tested on the Luminex assay . A subset of specimens which test negative for influenza by RT-PCR are tested using the Luminex PCR instrument. The Luminex assay can probe for the following 12 viral targets per specimen: Influenza A, Influenza A subtype H1, Influenza A subtype H3, Influenza B, Respiratory Syncytial Virus subtype A, Respiratory Syncytial Virus subtype B, Parainfluenza 1, Parainfluenza 2, Parainfluenza 3, Human Metapneumovirus, Rhinovirus, and Adenovirus. The goal of Luminex testing is to better understand which respiratory viruses are circulating in Kansas during influenza season.
Percent of Deaths Associated with Pneumonia and Influenza by Surveillance Period
Percent of Deaths Associated with Pneumonia and Influenza by Surveillance Period, Kansas, October 2012 - September 2013 and Previous Two Surveillance Periods*
Source: KDHE Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics, Office of Vital Statistics
Deaths Associated with Pneumonia and Influenza are those deaths with underlying or contributing causes that include ICD10 codes 'J09-J11.9 - INFLUENZA' and J12-J18.9 - PNEUMONIA'. In accordance with CDC guidance deaths are counted based on the date the event was registered and not the date of the death.
The X-axis represents the week ending dates for the 2012-13 surveillance period. Data from the previous two surveillance periods are plotted according to the week number corresponding to the 2012-13 week.
National Influenza Surveillance