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Pima County Health Department Flu Surveillance

Tucson, AZ - The novel H1N1 virus (also known as swine flu) is expected to cause widespread mild flu illness in the fall of 2009. Although this flu does not typically cause severe illness, it is still important to track local flu activity to help our medical providers respond quickly to the health needs of the community.

To prepare for increased flu activity in Pima County due to the novel H1N1 virus, the Pima County Health Department has developed an extensive surveillance system to track flu-related indicators. This includes local information from:

• Clinics - percent of patient visits with flu-like illness.
• Hospitals - percent of patient visits with flu-like illness.
• Pharmacies - number of over-the counter flu-related medications sold.
• Laboratories - number of positive flu tests reported to the state or county health department.  This only captures a limited number of diagnosed flu cases since medical providers are not required to report a rapid test that may be done in their office.
• Vital Records - number of pneumonia or flu-related deaths. This is part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ongoing project for 122 cities in the US.
• Schools - percent of children absent or sent home from school with flu-like illness.

Every week, information is reviewed for changes in flu-related activity from week-to-week, as well as changes from the past month and previous year(s) when available.

• Local area hospitals are reporting fewer emergency room visits for flu-like illness compared to previous week. This is the first decrease for most hospitals in several weeks.
• Most out-patient clinics reported a decrease in the percentage of patients with flu-like illness compared to the previous week.
• Sales for over-the counter medications increased this week compared to last week, and continue to remain elevated.
• The number of positive flu tests reported by laboratories appears to have decreased compared to the previous week, likely due to reporting delays.
• Week 42 Pneumonia and Flu deaths in Tucson, Arizona have not increased when compared to data from 2007 and 2008. Nationwide, deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza are increased and higher than what is expected at this time of year for four consecutive weeks now.
• The number of students absent or sent home with flu-like symptoms was less than the previous week, however absenteeism is still greater than 2007 and 2008. During this week 9 schools called with reports of increased student absenteeism with mild flu-like symptoms.

Summary: Overall, we continue to see evidence of widespread mild illness in Pima County, with some indication of decreasing activity.