April 11, 2002

FLU DIAGNOSIS LOWEST SINCE MID-DECEMBER

 Charlotte, NC –No new cases of flu or influenza-like illness (ILI) were recorded in Mecklenburg County during the most recent report of statewide influenza surveillance.  It was in the weeks ending December 15 and December 22 when percentages of flu and ILI diagnosis were at such a low level. 

“Once again, the figures indicate a gradual decline of ILI reported throughout the state,” says Torrey McLean, epidemiologist with the NC Division of Public Health. 

The following chart shows the drop in number of ILI diagnosis, the number of patient visits and the percentage of those patients diagnosed with the flu or a flu-like illness.   

Week Ending:                 ILI Diagnosis:                Patient Visits:      % Diagnosed:

4/06/02                                         9                              2580                        0.3%

3/30/02                                         21                            4984                        0.4%

3/23/02                                         42                            7163                        0.6%

3/16/02                                         49                            4926                        1.0%

3/09/02                                         121                          6632                        1.8%

3/02/02                                         215                          8640                        2.5%

2/23/02                                         348                          11200                      3.1%

2/16/02                                         352                          10867                      3.3%

2/09/02                                         308                          11078                      2.8%

2/02/02                                         236                          11278                      2.1%

1/26/02                                         285                          9457                        3.0%

1/19/02                                         128                          10339                      1.2%

1/12/02                                          65                            8982                        0.7%

1/05/02                                          33                            3731                        0.9%

 In North Carolina, 40 health care centers spread throughout 25 counties are participating in influenza surveillance. These surveillance sites will continue to track and report this data until May 18.  For the purposes of this program, an ‘influenza-like illness’ case definition is fever of 100 degrees F or higher and a cough or sore throat.  This program helps identify the emergence of flu strains and possible flu outbreaks and assists the North Carolina State Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in monitoring influenza activity in this state and the rest of the country.  

The complete influenza sentinel surveillance report and comparative national data from the CDC are posted on the Mecklenburg County Health Department’s web site, http://www.meckhealth.org.