Dear Provider,
As flu season approaches, the MDPH influenza surveillance team wants to stress the importance of influenza surveillance and the role that providers play. Our recent experience with novel H1N1 influenza has further reinforced the degree to which we rely on surveillance to track influenza activity and monitor for important trends. In addition, surveillance acts as a mechanism to identify new strains and changing antiviral resistance patterns.
We are looking for providers who are interested in participating in CDC’s US Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet). This important program plays an integral role in statewide and national influenza surveillance and has become one of our most important indicators of influenza activity. In addition to aiding in the detection and surveillance of seasonal and pandemic influenza, providers participating in this program receive a weekly influenza activity report from MDPH and will have a designated epidemiologist within the influenza team to contact with any influenza-related questions or concerns.
Included with this email is a one page information sheet describing the program and what is involved in participation (see link below). Any providers that are interested in participating are encouraged to contact Molly Crockett, Influenza Surveillance Coordinator at Molly.Crockett@state.ma.us for more information or to enroll.
With influenza season just around the corner, providers are also reminded that influenza cases confirmed by laboratory tests are required to be reported to MDPH [105 CMR 300.100]. To facilitate your reporting, we recently revised the Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Testing Reporting Form (see link below), which should be used to report all positive influenza rapid test results. Results of Influenza viral cultures, RT-PCR, or fluorescent antibody tests should not be reported on this reporting form. These results should be faxed in your routine laboratory report format to ISIS at 617-983-6813.
In addition, we ask that providers report to their local board of health and MDPH (617-983-6800) all significant cases and high-risk situations including: * All deaths related to influenza, in children < 18 years of age and pregnant women * Unusually severe cases of influenza * Any confirmed or suspect cases of influenza with encephalopathy * Clusters of influenza-like illness in children, pregnant women or adults * Any lab-confirmed case (s) or cluster of influenza-like illness in long-term care facilities or other high-risk institutional settings * Suspect avian influenza cases * Cases/isolates demonstrating antiviral resistance
Thank you for your continued cooperation, and we hope to hear from some of you soon.
Sincerely,
The MDPH Influenza Surveillance Team
http://www.mcnpweb.org/files/ILINet%2BInformation%2BMA-09-12-09.pdf
http://www.mcnpweb.org/files/RapidFlu_v2.2%20-%2009-12-09.PDF
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