Flu Season Has Taken It’s Toll On Texas

DSHS monitors influenza activity across the state all year. The most recent flu surveillance report shows widespread flu activity in Texas and high levels of influenza-like illness…

Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS) monitors influenza activity across the state all year. The most recent flu surveillance report shows widespread flu activity in Texas and high levels of influenza-like illness.

During this flu season, which started on October 1 2017, Texas has had 2,350 deaths associated with Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I). (See totals below.)

Flu has been reported widely across Texas for the last few weeks, and DSHS encourages people to do everything they can to prevent the spread of the flu. Everyone should wash their hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes and stay home when sick.

It is not too late to get vaccinated. The flu vaccine is made up of strains similar to ones currently circulating in North America, and vaccination provides the best protection against contracting the flu. Vaccination is especially important for people with chronic health conditions and weaker immune systems and their caregivers.

DSHS recommends that people see their healthcare provider as soon as they have symptoms. Prescription antiviral medication may lessen the severity of the illness. Additional information about influenza and ways to stop the spread of the flu virus can be found at www.texasflu.org.

Summary

Influenza activity remains high across the state of Texas. Compared to the previous week, the percentage of patient visits due to influenza-like illness (ILI) and the percentage of specimens testing positive for influenza reported by public health and hospital laboratories has marginally increased.

One influenza-associated pediatric death was reported. Thirteen ILI or influenza-associated outbreaks were reported. In addition to flu, other respiratory viruses—especially rhinovirus/enterovirus—were detected in Texas during week 03. It is too early to tell if influenza activity has peaked for the season in Texas.

TX P&I Mortality Surveillance Data

Pneumonia and influenza (P&I) death data are obtained from death certificates of Texas residents whose underlying or contributing cause(s) of death is reported as pneumonia or influenza. P&I deaths are identified based on ICD-10 multiple cause of death codes. In particular, P&I deaths are based on ICD-10 pneumonia and influenza mortality codes.

The current total of 2,350 P&I deaths have been reported in Texas during the 2017-2018 influenza season.

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