Local, State, and National Efforts That Support Influenza Surveillance—From the Ground Up
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By
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Eric J. Chow
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Tigran Avoundjian
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Laura P. Newman
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June 17, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: Grassroots to National Initiatives Enhancing Influenza Surveillance Efforts
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | |
| Key Mechanisms | Surveillance data inform vaccine selection, antiviral recommendations, and public health communication. |
| Target Population | |
| Care Setting | |
Key Highlights
- Historic low influenza detections during the 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19 interventions.
- Significant increase in influenza-associated pediatric deaths in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons.
- Emergence of influenza A(H3N2) subclade K viruses in the 2025-2026 season.
- High hospitalization rates associated with influenza A viruses, particularly A(H3N2).
- Collaboration among local and state health departments, laboratories, and hospitals enhances surveillance efforts.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Utilize virologic surveillance data to identify circulating influenza strains.
Management
- Implement antiviral recommendations based on resistance patterns.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Conduct ongoing surveillance to assess disease impact and vaccine effectiveness.
Risks
- Monitor for complications such as acute necrotizing encephalopathy in children.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Children and adults, with a focus on high-risk groups.
Vaccine effectiveness against hospitalizations estimated at 47% in children and 26% in adults.
Clinical Best Practices
- Engage multidisciplinary teams for effective data collection and analysis.
- Strengthen partnerships between public health and healthcare systems.
- Utilize near real-time data for timely public health responses.
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