The components of influenza surveillance in North Dakota are:
North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) and School Absenteeism Surveillance.
The NDDoH has schools throughout the state enrolled
in the school absenteeism program. Each school reports weekly
the number of students absent due to illness for each day out of the
total number of students. Schools enrolled in the program
include a sampling of elementary/grade schools, junior high/middle
schools and senior high/high schools.
North Dakota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory (NDPHL) and Private Laboratories.
The NDPHL reports the total number of influenza specimens tested and the number
positive by type each week. The NDDoH has
selected sentinel laboratories throughout the state who
participate in the influenza surveillance program. These
laboratories submit influenza testing data to the NDDoH on a weekly
basis. The data received are aggregate numbers for the number of
positive influenza tests out of the total number of tests performed
each week and may include out of state residents.
Positive influenza laboratory
tests from all laboratories should be reported to the NDDoH.
Influenza Sentinel Provider Surveillance Network.
The NDDoH participates in a national surveillance program conducted by CDC in which approximately
2,100 providers around the country report each week the total number
of patients seen and the number of those patients with
influenza-like illness (ILI) by age group. ILI is defined as
fever ≥ 100° F AND cough and/or sore throat.
There are currently eleven physicians, physician assistants, or
nurse practitioners enrolled in the influenza surveillance program.
North Dakota Syndromic Surveillance for ILI.
There are currently nine emergency room/emergency departments enrolled in
the ND Syndromic Surveillance Program. Data from these nine sites is
also collected as part of the sentinel surveillance program.
Ultimately, there will be 10 syndromic surveillance sites in ND and
data from each of these sites will be added to the sentinel
surveillance program as each site goes live.
State and Territorial Epidemiologists Reports.
The NDDoH participates in a surveillance program coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) in which state health departments report the
estimated level of influenza activity each week. When activity
occurs, it is reported as no activity, sporadic, local, regional, or
widespread.
Note: It is important to note that the reported information answers
the questions of where and when influenza is occurring and which
influenza viruses are circulating. The information cannot be used
to determine how many people have become ill with influenza during
a given season, nor to project or derive rates of influenza infection
in the general population.
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