Description
Visit the CDCs (Links to an external site.)FluView (Links to an external site.).
- Press “View this Application” below the screenshot of the National, Regional, and State Level Outpatient Illness and Viral Surveillance.
- Accept the disclaimer.
- Expand the Line Chart ILINet by pressing the square icon in the top right corner of that window.
This chart shows the percentage of outpatient visits that were due to influenza-like illness (ILI). For 2020-2021 flu season, the x-axis displays the weeks in a year (Links to an external site.), beginning with the start of flu season, September 28, 2020 (that date begins week #40).
Compare the percentage of ILI doctor visits from the 2020-2021 flu season with other years, especially the 2017-18 season where numbers were very high and sustained. Note the highest percentages and how long rates remained high. Change the Surveillance Area drop-down box to State and then select Texas. Also, view the chart below to compare Texas rates as reported by the DSHS in recent seasons:
Image: Texas Department of State Health Services. (2021). Texas influenza surveillance summer report 2020-2021 season/2021 MMWR week 53. https://dshs.texas.gov/IDCU/disease/influenza/surv…
License: Public Domain
What is significant about the 2020-2021 season based on national and state data as compared with other seasons? See number 2 on this webpage (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/overview.htm#Outpatient (Links to an external site.)) to see how that data is compiled. What are some ethical, privacy, and confidentiality considerations that come to play in the collection, dissemination, and use of this information? Were there changes in practice and medical recommendations during that time and in recent weeks from your own experience or from news reports? How does evidence-based practice play a role in those changes?
