Maine Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report

November 10, 2005

Synopsis

During week 44 (October 30 – November 5, 2005)*, statewide influenza activity was characterized by the state epidemiologist as “no activity”, meaning no culture-confirmed cases of influenza have been detected.

Moderate Disease Surveillance

Outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI)

During week 42, 0.5% of sentinel provider patient visits were due to ILI. The range of patient visits for ILI was 0% to 1.0%.

Severe Disease Surveillance

Hospital inpatient

During week 43, two hospitals reported that 3.0% of emergency department admissions were due to respiratory illness. During week 42, three hospitals reported that 1.2% of emergency department admissions were due to respiratory illness.

Laboratory Reporting

As of week 44, a total of 32 respiratory specimens have been submitted for viral testing to the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory. Twenty specimens were negative for influenza and other respiratory illnesses; results are pending on 12 specimens.

A total of 91 respiratory specimens have been submitted for viral testing to two reference laboratories in Maine, as of week 44. All were negative for influenza. Of the 66 specimens tested for other respiratory illnesses, 5 specimens were positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), 2 were positive for parainfluenza-1 and 5 were positive for adenovirus.

Fatalities Surveillance

Death Certificates

During week 44, 5.1% of deaths reported by city vital records offices were attributable to pneumonia and influenza. The rate at which deaths were attributable to pneumonia and influenza in the 3 cities ranged from 0% to 9.7%.

^ New England includes the following reporting areas: Boston, MA; Bridgeport, CT; Cambridge, MA; Fall River, MA; Hartford, CT; Lowell, MA; Lynn, MA; New Bedford, MA; New Haven, CT; Providence, RI; Somerville, MA; Springfield, MA; Waterbury, CT; Worcester, MA.

Pediatric Fatalities

No influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported as of week 44.

* At time of publication, reporting may be incomplete. Numbers presented here may change as more reports are received.