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Acute Disease Epidemiology
Table of Contents
Influenza surveillance information:          1-3
Information for healthcare professionals:   4
Avian influenza information:                     5
Pandemic preparedness:                           6
Additional resource links:                           7

South Carolina Influenza Activity and Surveillance:
2009-2010 Season

1. SC Flu Activity Status for MMWR Week 4
(January 24 - January 30, 2010): Local

US Influenza Activity: www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly    

DHEC 2009 H1N1: www.scdhec.gov/flu/novel-h1n1-flu.htm

Current pandemic phase, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is:

Phase 6

Human infection(s) with a new subtype which has caused widespread human infections and sustained community level outbreaks.

2. How many cases of influenza do we have?

Surveillance cannot tell us how many cases of influenza there are in South Carolina because not everyone who has influenza goes to the doctor. Surveillance can tell us the trend of influenza in South Carolina. Based on previous years data, it is estimated that ten percent of the South Carolina population (about 400,000) will have influenza by the end of the season.

It is important to remember the following about influenza surveillance in the United States:

  • The reported information answers the questions of where, when, and what influenza viruses are circulating. It can be used to determine if influenza activity is increasing or decreasing, but cannot be used to ascertain how many people have become ill with influenza during the influenza season.
  • Other conditions commonly have influenza-like symptoms, but are not influenza. Unusual clusters of respiratory illness are reportable by hospitals and physician offices by phone based upon our current List of Reportable Conditions (pdf).

3. What is Influenza Surveillance?

South Carolina influenza surveillance consists of several components. Each component provides different types of information about influenza, but together they create a better overview of influenza activity in the state.

Influenza surveillance allows South Carolina and the CDC to monitor influenza activity and see how it impacts the health of South Carolinians. Surveillance helps us to:

  • Determine whether the influenza virus is what is causing influenza-like symptoms,
  • Tell when the influenza virus first appears in the state, and also when it decreases,
  • Determine where in the state the influenza virus is circulating

Surveillance cannot tell us exactly how many cases of influenza there are in the state because not everyone who gets the influenza goes to the doctor to get tested. The types of influenza virus that infect people often change every influenza season. Influenza surveillance can tell us what new influenza virus types are in South Carolina. The new influenza virus information is used to help make vaccines for next year’s influenza season.

4. Information for health care professionals

5. Avian Influenza information

6. Pandemic preparedness

7. Links to other resources for information about influenza