The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services conducts local influenza surveillance during flu season each year and offers periodic updates to you, our healthcare providers.
Surveillance Report Update
This influenza season, we will be releasing three Influenza Surveillance Update reports - this report and two additional reports in the beginning of 2017 and next spring. Additional updates will be provided if there is significantly increased influenza activity or emerging trends.
National Influenza Vaccination Week
December 4-10, 2016 is National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), which aims to promote the importance of continuing influenza vaccination. Providers should continue to discuss and offer influenza immunization to unvaccinated patients.
Use of the Flu Mist (Intranasal Vaccine) For the 2016-2017 season, CDC recommends use of the flu shot (inactivated influenza vaccine or IIV) and the recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV). The Flu Mist (live attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine or LAIV) should not be used during the 2016-2017 influenza season as data have suggested that it is ineffective. The 2016-2017 influenza vaccination recommendations are now available.
First Flu Death of a Person Under Age 65 Confirmed in California The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) received the first report of an influenza-associated fatality in a person under the age of 65 for the 2016-17 influenza season. The death occurred in Los Angeles County. Visit CDPH's health alert for more information. Report any cases of severe influenza (laboratory-confirmed influenza requiring admission to an ICU or death) to the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services.
During the first seven weeks of this influenza season (October 2-November 19), influenza activity was minimal in Marin County, with a low proportion of ED visits associated with influenza-like illness (Figure 1) and a low proportion of positive influenza tests (Figure 2).
Influenza-like illness activity: Influenza-like illness activity in Marin County remained low during the first seven weeks of this influenza season. Discharge data from Kaiser San Rafael, Marin General Hospital, and Novato Community Hospital emergency departments and visits to Sutter Terra Linda Urgent Care showed the percentage of visits associated with influenza-like illness (ILI) was 8.7% during week 46. See Figure 1 below.
Figure 1. Proportion of Visits due to Influenza-Like Illness (ILI):
Kaiser San Rafael, MGH, and NCH Emergency Departments and Sutter Terra Linda Urgent Care, 2014-15, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017 Influenza Seasons
PROVISIONAL DATA, SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Influenza testing: There were eight positive tests during the first seven weeks of the influenza season (October 2-November 19). All of the positive specimens from week 46 were influenza A. See Figure 2 below.
Figure 2. Influenza Tests in Marin County, 2016-2017 Influenza Season
PROVISIONAL DATA, SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Visit MarinFlu.org for influenza vaccination, testing, and treatment recommendations.
California
Influenza activity is within expected levels for this time of year in California. View the full analysis at the California Department of Public Health'sinfluenza surveillance website.
United States
National influenza activity is low, however, localized influenza activity has been reported. View more detailed information at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's influenza surveillance website.
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