Influenza (Flu) Surveillance in Vermont
Activity levels, data and charts for the 2011-2012 flu surveillance season are updated weekly, or when there is a change in status.
- Vermont Flu Activity Level Information
- Lab Testing & Surveillance Data Reports
- Flu and Disease Reporting
- Contact Information
This page last updated May 16, 2012
Flu Activity in Vermont
The flu activity level is updated weekly or when there is a change in status.
Flu Activity Levels
- No Activity: No laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza and no reported increase in the number of cases of influenza-like illness (ILI). ILI is defined as a fever of > 100 ° F and cough and/or sore throat.
- Sporadic: Small numbers of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, or a single influenza outbreak has been reported, but there is no increase in cases of ILI.
- Local: Outbreaks of influenza or increases in ILI cases and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza in a single region of the state.
- Regional: Outbreak of influenza or increases in influenza-like illness in at least two but less than half the regions of the state, with recent laboratory confirmed influenza in the affected regions.
- Widespread: Outbreaks of influenza or increases in ILI cases and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza in at least half the regions of the state.
Vermont has five influenza surveillance regions: Northeast, Northwest, Central, Southeast and Southwest.
Activity level is assessed using data from Vermont sentinel providers, syndromic surveillance from several hospitals, and reports of flu outbreaks from schools, nursing homes, other group settings and laboratory reports.
Activity levels are reported weekly by states to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Laboratory Testing & Surveillance Data Reports
Health care providers submit specimens to the Health Department Laboratory for influenza testing. These tests allow us to determine the presence and type of influenza virus in the specimen. Since influenza viruses are constantly evolving, this information serves as an indicator of which types are currently circulating in the community. More about Laboratory Influenza Testing
Influenza Testing by |
Specimens Tested
|
No. of specimens tested |
3 |
Positive specimens |
1 (33%) |
Positive specimens by type/subtype: |
|
Influenza A |
1 (100%) |
A (2009 H1N1) |
0 (0%) |
A (H1) |
0 (0%) |
A (H3) |
1 (100%) |
A (unsubtyped) |
0 (0%) |
Influenza B |
0 (0%) |
| This chart includes data only for specimens tested by the Department of Health Laboratory. More about Influenza Testing. | |
Influenza Isolate Typing
Influenza Isolate Typing Chart [PDF]
This chart provides a weekly summary of Health Department laboratory test results of positive flu specimens, by influenza subtype. [ 2010-2011 Chart ]
Influenza-like Illness Hospital Visit Trends [PDF]
This chart represents a weekly summary of emergency department visits and inpatient admissions due to respiratory illness at facilities that participate in the Early Aberration Reporting System (EARS).
Vermont Sentinel Provider Data
Sentinel Provider Data [PDF]
This chart represents the sentinel provider data reported on a weekly basis to the national ILINet system.
More about Sentinel
Provider Surveillance
About Laboratory Influenza Testing
The Health Department Laboratory offers influenza testing throughout the year. Due to limited resources the Health Department will only provide influenza testing by RT-PCR to:
- Sentinel providers
- Emergency departments enrolled in the Early Aberration Reporting System (EARS)(exit VDH)
- Long-term care centers or other institutions experiencing influenza-like illness outbreaks
- Providers with special circumstances (e.g., has a patient with a serious illness or complication that might be due to influenza or has a patient who is hospitalized with an influenza-like illness)
Sentinel providers as well as EARS enrollees are provided influenza specimen collection kits and testing at no cost. This helps influenza surveillance efforts by supplying the Laboratory with specimens that can be used to further characterize influenza.
Long-term care centers and other institutions experiencing outbreaks of influenza-like illness or providers with special circumstances will be provided with free influenza specimen collection kits and testing. Please arrange testing by calling: 1-802-863-7240 or 1-800-640-4374.
For influenza specimen collection supplies and laboratory information, medical providers may call the Health Department Laboratory at 1-800-660-9997 or 802-863-7335.
For H5N1 analysis, see: Guidelines for Submitting Specimens for Influenza H5N1 Analysis (pdf)
Influenza & Disease Reporting
See also: Communicable Disease Reporting in Vermont
Health care providers are required by law to report diseases of public health importance.
Cases of reportable diseases should be reported to the Department of Health within 24 hours.
- Reportable Disease List for Providers (pdf)
- Contact Numbers for Department of Health
- Communicable Disease Regulations (pdf)
Persons who are required to report:
- health care facilities
- health care providers
- health maintenance organizations
- hospital administrators
- laboratory directors
- managed care organizations
- nurse practitioners
- nurses
- physician assistants
- physicians
- school health officials
- town health officers
Reportable by medical providers, hospitals, school health officials:
- Pediatric influenza-related deaths
- Institutional outbreaks
Reportable by laboratories:
- Positive viral cultures
- Weekly aggregate # of positive rapid influenza tests
About Sentinel Provider Surveillance
Vermont Sentinel Provider Data
Sentinel Provider Data [PDF]
This chart represents the sentinel provider data reported on a weekly basis to the national ILINet system.
Sentinel providers conduct surveillance for influenza-like illness (ILI), in collaboration with Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The data reported by the sentinel providers - in combination with other flu surveillance data - provide a national picture of influenza virus and ILI activity. Sentinels report the total number of patient visits each week, and the number of patient visits for ILI by age group.
Vermont Sentinel Providers
Eighteen sentinel providers in 11 counties are currently enrolled in the Vermont network. Sentinels generally report during the official flu season while several report year-round.
- Bennington
- Caledonia
- Chittenden
- Franklin
- Essex
- Orange
- Orleans
- Rutland
- Windham
- Windsor
Become a Sentinal Provider
New sentinel providers in any type of practice (family practice and internal medicine, urgent care centers, emergency rooms, college student health centers, pediatric practices) are invited to join the network at any time throughout the year.
For more information contact 1-800-640-4374 or 802-863-7240.
Contact Information
Department of Health - General Information
800-464-4343 (toll free in Vermont)
802-863-7200
TTY/TDD: Dial 711 first
Fax: 802-865-7754
Epidemiology
800-640-4374 (toll free in Vermont)
802-863-7240
24 hours a day, weekends and holidays
Laboratory
800-660-9997 (toll free in Vermont)
802-863-7335
Immunization Program
800-464-4343 (toll free in Vermont)
802-863-7638
Influenza Surveillance Coordinator
800-640-4374 (toll free in Vermont)
802-863-7240