Notifiable Influenza Conditions

• Influenza-associated pediatric mortality has been nationally notifiable since 2004. The CDC case reporting system defines an influenza-associated pediatric death as "a death resulting from a clinically compatible illness that was confirmed to be influenza by an appropriate laboratory or rapid diagnostic test. There should be no period of complete recovery between the illness and death. Influenza-associated deaths in all persons aged <18 years should be reported."
  
  Death should not be reported if:
  • There is no laboratory confirmation of influenza virus infection.
  • The influenza illness is followed by full recovery to baseline health status prior to death.
  • The death occurs in a person 18 years or older.
  • After review and consultation there is an alternative agreed upon cause of death.•
    
    
• Novel influenza type A virus infections have been notifiable since 2007.
  • A novel type A influenza virus is one against which there is little to no pre-existing immunity.
  • "A human case of infection with an influenza A virus subtype that is different from currently circulating human influenza H1 and H3 viruses. Novel subtypes include, but are not limited to, H2, H5, H7, and H9 subtypes. Influenza H1 and H3 subtypes originating from a non-human species or from genetic reassortment between animal and human viruses are also novel subtypes."
  • All state public health laboratories have the capacity to test respiratory specimens for influenza viruses with sensitive and specific assays that can detect human and non-human influenza A viruses. They also have the capacity to subtype currently circulating human influenza A H1, H3, and avian H5 (Asian lineage) viruses. The detection or confirmation by a state public health laboratory of an influenza A virus that is unsubtypable with standard methods (e.g., real-time RT-PCR assays for human influenza A(H3) or (H1) viruses), or a non-human influenza virus (e.g., H5) from a human specimen, could be the initial identification of a virus with pandemic potential. Prompt notification of CDC by a state epidemiologist in conjunction with the public health laboratory will permit rapid confirmation of results and reporting to WHO. In addition, it will aid prompt viral characterization, and the development of virus-specific diagnostic tests.•

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