Weekly Influenza & Respiratory Activity: Statistics

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updated 2/2/12

January 22-28 (week 4 of 2012)

All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.

Influenza Activity Surveillance

  • The percentage of tests positive for influenza during week 4 as reported from the MN Lab System (MLS) Laboratory Influenza Surveillance Program:
    • Rapid influenza testing: 3.4% positive
    • PCR testing: 4.4% positive
    • Viral culture: 2 influenza A positives
  • 6 people were hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza during week 4. Since the start of the influenza season, 52 persons have been hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza.
  • No deaths were identified during week 4. Since the start of the influenza season, 3 influenza-related deaths have been reported.
  • No long-term care facilities (defined as skilled nursing facilities) reported confirmed outbreaks of influenza during week 4. Since the start of the season, 2 outbreaks of influenza have been reported.
  • 2 schools reported outbreaks of influenza-like illness (ILI) during week 4. Since the start of the season, 16 outbreaks of ILI have been reported.
  • The percentage of influenza-like illness visits to outpatient clinics involved in the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance (ILINet) was below the regional baseline at 0.70%.

Circulating Respiratory Pathogen Surveillance

  • Of specimens tested from 4 outpatient sites for circulating viral respiratory pathogens in the previous 3 weeks for which data are available:
    • 23% were positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
    • 11% were positive for rhinovirus
    • 6% were positive for parainfluenza virus 1
    • 4% were positive for adenovirus
    • 1% were positive for parainfluenza virus 4
    • 1% were positive for influenza A
  • Of specimens positive for a viral pathogen at Minnesota’s 6 virology laboratories during week 4:
    • 41 were positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
    • 6 were positive for adenovirus
    • 2 were positive for influenza A
    • 1 was positive for cytomegalovirus (CMV)
    • 1 was positive for parainfluenza virus 1
    • 1 was positive for parainfluenza virus 2

Minnesota Influenza Activity Level
Minnesota influenza activity level graph.
Influenza Activity Level Definitions
Definitions of the weekly influenza activity estimates as reported by state and territorial epidemiologists.

National Influenza Activity Level
CDC flu view map of the U.S. flu activity.
Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report
Weekly influenza surveillance data prepared by the CDC. Attention: Non-MDH link

  • About Influenza Statistics
    Description on how influenza is monitored in Minnesota, along with links to CDC and WHO influenza reporting and annual summaries of influenza activity in Minnesota.

Updated Wednesday, 01-Feb-2012 15:44:15 CST