Seasonal Influenza in Philadelphia |
Philadelphia Seasonal Influenza Activity:
Number of Lab-Confirmed Reports: 38*
Number of Hospitalized Cases: 10
Number of Deaths: 0
* These totals are collected from a subset of labs.
Last Updated (12/7/2019)
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Current Recommendations
- Annual influenza vaccine is recommended for ALL persons 6 months of age and older. Providers should offer influenza vaccination to all patients at every opportunity.
- Healthcare worker influenza vaccination is recommended and endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and almost every professional organization. Providers should be vaccinated to protect patients, themselves and their families.
- Respiratory etiquette is also important during influenza season. Everyone should cover their cough and practice regular hand-washing, especially when symptomatic.
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Latest Updates on Seasonal Influenza
- Influenza activity is currently characterized as WIDESPREAD in Pennsylvania (influenza outbreaks or increases in influenza-like illness cases or laboratory-confirmed influenza in at least half of a state's regions).
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Health Alerts, Advisories, Notifications, and Updates
New Influenza Vaccine Requirement for Daycare Attendees: The Board of Health in Philadelphia passed a new regulation requiring flu vaccination for all children 6 months – 5 years old who attend any group child care facility in Philadelphia. Child care attendees need to receive a flu vaccine every year between September 1st and December 31st.
Vaccine Information
- Influenza vaccination is the most effective tool available to prevent illness due to influenza. Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of flu-related doctor's visits, hospitalization, and death.
- Anyone can receive an age-appropriate influenza vaccine except infants <6 months of age and people with history of a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to flu vaccine or any flu vaccine ingredient. Most people with egg allergies can receive flu vaccines.
- Flu vaccine is especially important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza including children <5 years, adults 65 years and older, pregnant women and people who have:
- Asthma and other chronic lung diseases
- Diabetes
- Metabolic disorders
- Immunocompromising conditions (i.e., HIV/AIDS, cancer) or who take immunocompromising medicines
- Neurologic conditions
- Obesity
- Blood disorders like sickle cell diseases
- Providers should continue to give influenza vaccine as long as influenza is still circulating in the community.
Philadelphia Influenza Surveillance Updates:
PDPH tracks influenza activity in Philadelphia, especially severe influenza disease. Providers should report all hospitalized influenza cases, influenza deaths in children and influenza outbreaks in closed settings like long-term care facilities and shelters.
Week 49: Febrile/flu-like illnesses continued to increase among children ages 0-4 years. Thirty-eight positive specimens were reported from our sentinel hospital laboratory surveillance for influenza A and B during the same time period among the 6 participating laboratories, most of which (31) were influenza B. There were 10 reports of severe influenza (Philadelphia resident, positive by rapid test, PCR or culture, and hospitalized for = 24 hrs.) during this time frame, with 70% positive for Influenza B. There were no influenza outbreaks (= 1 case of laboratory confirmed influenza reported in a long term care facility) reported this week, with a total of 1 outbreak this season. No influenza-associated deaths have been reported.
Current Report: Click here to download the last weekly report of influenza activity (from Dec. 1, 2019 through Dec. 7, 2019) in a printable format.
National and State Influenza Surveillance Updates:
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) has reported “widespread” influenza activity, which is defined by the CDC as outbreaks of laboratory-confirmed influenza or increases in influenza-like illness in at least half of the state. From 9/29/19 to 12/07/19, there have been 4,424 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza (positive by rapid test, PCR, or culture). The majority of influenza throughout the state has been identified as influenza B (3,285 reports, 74.3%). Six influenza related deaths have been reported thus far this season. For more information, please visit https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Flu/Pages/2019-20-Flu.aspx.
United States
Widespread activity has increased to 23 states from 16, with higher ILI-activity in Southern states. The majority of specimens tested in clinical laboratories since week 40 have been positive for influenza B (2,353, 68.5%). CDC has antigenically characterized 16 B/Victoria and 18 A(H1N1) viruses and has found that 10 (62.5%) of B/Victoria and 18 (100%) of A(H1N1) viruses were antigenically similar to the cell-grown reference viruses in the current vaccine. Almost all (>99%) tested viruses show susceptibility to oseltamivir, zanamivir, baloxavir and peramivir. For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm.
Resources
- Where to Get Flu Vaccine - Coming Soon
- Community Flu Clinic Information
- Guides for Influenza Outbreak Prevention and Management:
- Provider Toolkit - Coming Soon
- Seasonal Influenza Posters