Georgia Flu Surveillance Update: Week 44 – 2024

Georgia Flu Surveillance Update: Week (Ending November 2, 2024)

As of Week 44, Georgia flu activity was Low= 4 (on the scale of 1-13). Activity levels are based on the percent of outpatient visits in Georgia due to Influenza-like illness during this timeframe.

For the corresponding week, the percentage of outpatient visits for Influenza-like Illness was 3.3% (which is above the regional baseline of 3.2%), the number of influenza-associated death was 0 (0 total for the current ILI season); the number of Metro Area Influenza Hospitalizations was 3 (17 total for current Flu season); and the number of Influenza Outbreaks was 0 (0 total for current Flu season).

Map shows Influenza-like cases in US southern region. Georgia activity indicator is at level 4 (Low) on week 44 as shown in light green color.

For week 44, the graph shows an increase in cases for age group 00-04. Age groups 05-24, 25-49, 50-64, and 65+ remain stable compared to the previous week.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) Surveillance

Data from NREVSS are also analyzed to measure the RSV seasonality. Antigen and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are analyzed separately to determine the start and end of RSV season. Season onset is defined as the first week of two consecutive weeks when the percent positive of ALL laboratory confirmed tests are greater than or equal a certain threshold. The end is defined as the first week of two consecutive weeks when the percent positive of ALL laboratory confirmed tests are less than a certain threshold. For antigen-based testing, the threshold is 10% and for PCR the threshold is 3%.

During week 44, clinical laboratories in Georgia reported testing 1,690 (4.8% positive) antigen specimens and 1,968 (15.5% positive) PCR specimens.

For week 44, RSV PCR positive test results had an increase of cases comparing to previous week.

Other Respiratory Disease Surveillance

Trends in influenza, RSV, and other respiratory viruses are displayed below using NREVSS polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing data.

For week 44, Rhino-Enterovirus and RSV show an increase in cases compared to previous weeks. However, Adenovirus shows a decrease in cases compared to the previous week. Influenza, Parainfluenza, Coronavirus (seasonal) and hMPV remain stable.

Summary: Number of PCR Tests (% Positive)

Getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to protect yourself and others.

District 2 health departments have vaccines available. Please contact your local health department for information on how to get your vaccine at http://phdistrict2.org/contact-us.

To learn more about how to protect yourself against flu and other respiratory diseases, visit DPH website at https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/acute-disease-epidemiology/viral-respiratory-diseases and CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/.

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