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)

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.

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).

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.

Surveillance                                                                                                                                                         Archive

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:
  • Long Term Care Facilities
  • Schools
• Provider Toolkit - Coming Soon
• Seasonal Influenza Posters