Oklahoma Viral Respiratory Illness Sentinel Surveillance System

Disease tracking is conducted on respiratory viruses in order to detect activity of respiratory viruses as early as possible, to monitor and describe the intensity and geographic distribution of disease, measure the impact of viral respiratory illnesses on different age groups, and to identify and publicize the circulating types and subtypes.

The purpose of the system is to follow and detect respiratory virus activity due to its significant disease burden. An estimated 114,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths are caused by influenza each year in the United States. The monitoring system consists of partnerships with various dedicated local and national groups. These entities include the U.S. Sentinel Physicians Surveillance Network, the Laboratory Diagnostic Reporting System, and the
Respiratory Virus Outbreak Detection System. All of the information provided from these sources is integrated in order to assess overall influenza activity in Oklahoma.

Monitoring activities for the 2009-2010 viral respiratory illness season began the first week of October. The number of reporting sources consists of 18 healthcare practices distributed in 15 counties. These dedicated sentinel providers regularly report the number and age distribution of patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) that present to their respective clinics. 

Other collected data include the number of patients hospitalized due to ILI and number of patients screening positive for influenza by rapid antigen/enzyme testing. To identify and characterize the circulating influenza and respiratory
viruses, sentinel providers also submit specimens to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Public Health Laboratory for viral culture.

The Laboratory Diagnostic System consists of eleven geographically distributed hospital laboratories that voluntarily report results of respiratory virus testing on a weekly basis during the
respiratory virus season.

The Respiratory Virus Outbreak Detection System consists of partnerships with county health departments and healthcare providers in Oklahoma. When outbreaks of respiratory illness occur in schools, nursing homes or other
institutional settings, they should be reported to the local county health department. Once outbreaks are reported, specimens are collected and submitted to the PHL for viral identification.

Influenza Sentinel Surveillance Data and Statistics
Percent Influenza-like Illness Graph 2006-2009 (18k.pdf)
Percent Positive Influenza Testing Graph 2006-2009 (19k.pdf)
Influenza and Respiratory Virus Testing Table (121k.pdf)
Influenza Viral Testing Graph (17k.pdf)
OK Flu View

National Information
CDC Flu Activity Level Criteria (150k.pdf)
National Seasonal Influenza Information
United States Influenza Activity Map