Influenza disease surveillance begins October 1 and continues through March, or until the influenza season is over. The data collected through the surveillance system assists in determining the arrival of influenza and estimates the amount of disease activity. Surveillance also identifies the strains of the virus that are circulating so that health care providers can consider the relative value of antiviral treatments for people who are at high risk of complications.
Data collected locally is shared at the state and national levels.
Hospitals are asked to report any influenza outbreaks in their facilities. Additionally, several local health care providers have volunteered to be sentinel reporters. Throughout the influenza season, the Epi-Log will provide data about this year's influenza activity. Many health care providers have organized influenza vaccination campaigns this fall. In July of this year there was a voluntary national recall of Gammar, the intramuscular IG product with an Armour Pharmaceutical label.