Pandemic Influenza Plan - Questar III

Section 2: Surveillance and Laboratory Testing
o Pediatric Influenza-Associated Death: Medical providers are required by
regulation to immediately report by telephone any suspected or confirmed
influenza-associated deaths in patients less than 18 years of age to the local health
department where the patient resides.
o Death Certificates: All death certificates with either (1) influenza listed as the
immediate cause of death, (2) death due to or as a consequence of influenza, or
(3) influenza listed as a significant condition contributing to death but not related
to the immediate cause identified are forwarded weekly to NYSDOH Division of
Epidemiology for review.
B. Enhanced Surveillance Activities
Surveillance activities will be modified based on the phase and level of influenza activity.
Following is a list of enhanced influenza surveillance activities that could be initiated as
needed throughout the phases of the pandemic.
• Virologic Surveillance:
o Increase the number of specimens to be submitted through the SPN by provide
testing for SPN-submitted specimens beyond the influenza season.
o Expand laboratory-confirmed influenza reporting from ECLRS-participating
laboratories to all laboratories. Although implementation of the laboratory
confirmed influenza reporting regulation as of January 2004 requiring ECLRSparticipating
laboratories to report, the regulation does allow NYSDOH to
mandate the complete spectrum of communicable disease reporting.
o Eelectronically reported ECLRS data will be the primary surveillance method
used to determine where laboratory confirmed influenza is circulating in NYS
during the following periods:
• Interpandemic
• Pandemic Alert and No Evidence of HPAI or Other Novel Influenza Virus
Requiring Testing in a BSL-3 Laboratory
• Pandemic
o During the Pandemic Alert and Pandemic Periods when HPAI or Other
Novel Influenza Virus Requiring Testing in a BSL-3 Laboratory NYSDOH
Wadsworth laboratory results, which are reported on ECLRS, will be the primary
surveillance method used to determine where laboratory confirmed novel
influenza is circulating in NYS.
• Outpatient Surveillance:
o Implement provider influenza case reporting as necessary during the Pandemic
Alert and Pandemic Phases prior to the novel influenza strain being identified in
February 7, 2006 2-7