An Influenza Sentinel Physician reports total numbers of patient visits versus numbers of visits for ILI each week to CDC by Internet, telephone or fax. This data is a critical part of monitoring the impact of influenza each year. New Testing Approach Norwalk-like viruses are believed to be the most common agents of foodborne and waterborne viral gastroenteritis outbreaks. However, testing for Norwalk-like viruses at the state laboratory have previously not been done, because of the lack of sufficiently sensitive testing methods and local expertise. CDC can perform testing, and some outbreaks were detected through their laboratory, but CDC does not test an outbreak with fewer than six samples available for testing.
Testing is aimed at outbreaks, and requires prior arrangement in order to submit samples.
Christine Hahn, MD State Epidemiologist Leslie Tengelsen, PhD, DVM Deputy State Epidemiologist Costs associated with this publication are available from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.