OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether monitoring rapid influenza laboratory tests improved the influenza-like illness surveillance already in place in New Mexico. METHODS: For the past 3 influenza seasons, the New Mexico Department of Health examined influenza-like illness visits and positive rapid influenza test results. RESULTS: The proportion of positive rapid influenza test results started to rise earlier than did the percentage of clinical visits because of influenza-like illness in each of the past 3 influenza seasons: 5 weeks earlier during the 2004-2005 season; 3 weeks earlier in 2005-2006; and 2 weeks earlier in 2006-2007. In addition, rapid influenza tests showed a spike in influenza B activity late in the 2005-2006 season that influenza-like illness syndrome surveillance did not. CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory-based rapid influenza test surveillance required relatively few resources to implement and offered a sensitive mechanism to detect the onset of influenza activity while allowing for the distinction of influenza types.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether monitoring rapid influenza laboratory tests improved the influenza-like illness surveillance already in place in New Mexico. METHODS: For the past 3 influenza seasons, the New Mexico Department of Health examined influenza-like illness visits and positive rapid influenza test results. RESULTS: The proportion of positive rapid influenza test results started to rise earlier than did the percentage of clinical visits because of influenza-like illness in each of the past 3 influenza seasons: 5 weeks earlier during the 2004-2005 season; 3 weeks earlier in 2005-2006; and 2 weeks earlier in 2006-2007. In addition, rapid influenza tests showed a spike in influenza B activity late in the 2005-2006 season that influenza-like illness syndrome surveillance did not. CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory-based rapid influenza test surveillance required relatively few resources to implement and offered a sensitive mechanism to detect the onset of influenza activity while allowing for the distinction of influenza types.
Authors: Stephanie J Schrag; David K Shay; Ken Gershman; Ann Thomas; Allen S Craig; William Schaffner; Lee H Harrison; Duc Vugia; Paula Clogher; Ruth Lynfield; Monica Farley; Shelley Zansky; Timothy Uyeki Journal: Pediatr Infect Dis J Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 2.129
Authors: Lisa H Gren; Christina A Porucznik; Elizabeth A Joy; Joseph L Lyon; Catherine J Staes; Stephen C Alder Journal: Influenza Res Treat Date: 2013-04-11