Health Information Portal (HIP)

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 33: Influenza diagnoses at local emergency departments remained low for all ages during week 33. Positive detections of influenza A and B at select local hospital laboratories both have continued to decline over recent weeks and activity overall is low. A preliminary count of 253 severe influenza cases (Philadelphia resident, positive by rapid test, PCR or culture, and hospitalized for ≥ 24 hrs) have been reported and confirmed so far this season, the majority of which have been influenza A. Several reports were duplicates and have since been excluded. Thirty-seven influenza outbreaks have been reported and confirmed (≥ 1 case of laboratory confirmed flu reported in a long-term care facility) this season.

Current Report: Click here to download the last weekly report of influenza activity (August 11, 2024 through August 17, 2024) in a printable format.

State and National Influenza Surveillance Updates:

Pennsylvania: As of August 17, 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) reported that influenza A and B activity is low. Please note that PADOH has paused weekly summaries until the fall or respiratory virus activity increases. Emergency department visits resulting in an influenza diagnosis continue to decline among all age groups and areas. Four hundred and eighty nine deaths have been reported to date this season. For more information, please visit: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Flu/Pages/2023-24-Flu.aspx

United States: As of August 17, 2024, the CDC reports that influenza activity is low nationwide. In week 33, clinical laboratories reported 147 specimens (0.4%) of 37,590 specimens tested positive for influenza, 86.4% of which were influenza A. Of influenza A specimens subtyped at public health labs, 41.3% have been subtyped as H1N1 and 58.7% as H3N2. All HHS regions are below their outpatient respiratory illness baselines. In week 33, no jurisdictions reported moderate or high levels of flu activity. Of note, two additional human infection of influenza A (H5) was recently reported by the Ohio Department of Health and Environment. The cases work at a farm that currently has cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus in their cattle/poultry. For more information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/?web=1&wdLOR=c71BAB5AB-9284-416F-B9D9-70F93738A077