Influenza Surveillance Update – Noreen Ajayi (CDC)
Noreen provided an update on influenza activity for Week 4, ending January 25, 2020. On a national level, although B Victoria has been the predominant influenza strain this season, we are now seeing increasing levels of influenza A(H1N1).
Clinical labs reported 27.7% of submitted specimens were positive for influenza, an increase from the previous week. Outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) activity increased from 5.0% the previous week to 5.7% during the reporting week.
Fourteen (14) influenza-related pediatric deaths were reported during the week, bringing the 2019–2020 total for pediatric deaths to 68.
Pneumonia and influenza (P&I) mortality was reported to be 6.7% of deaths, below the epidemic threshold of 7.2%.
Announcements – L.J Tan (IAC)
- 2020 Summit Meeting – This year’s meeting will be held on May 18, the day prior to the opening of the National Immunization Conference (NIC). Information on registration and other pertinent details is available on the Summit website. The deadline to submit nominations for the Immunization Excellence Awards has been extended to February 10. Poster submissions will be accepted through March 15. It is acceptable to submit posters that also will be presented at NIC.
- Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) – TFAH has just published Ready or Not 2020: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism. This publication provides an annual assessment of states’ level of readiness to respond to public health emergencies and recommends policy actions to ensure everyone’s health is protected during such events. The 2020 edition reports overall preparedness improvement, but also identifies areas that need attention.
- Summit Call Schedule – Summit calls are held each Thursday at 3 pm ET unless otherwise cancelled via an email announcement.
