KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Public Health Seattle & King County's influenza surveillance system has detected a significant increase in influenza among children and adults. Absenteeism of over ten percent has been reported from several local schools within the last two weeks, and one confirmed nursing home outbreak has been reported. Since November 1, all influenza isolates collected in King County have been influenza A (H3N2), a strain that is covered by this year's influenza vaccine. Statewide influenza A (H3N2) has been exclusively identified as well.

Individual cases of influenza are not reportable to Public Health. We do seek reports of outbreaks at nursing home facilities and from schools and child care programs in the county. In addition, some local health providers submit throat swabs to the Public Health Laboratory. These throat swabs have been collected from ill persons in the community suspected to have influenza. These are used to identify which strains of influenza are in the community, and to advise health care providers about treatment options. Based on this monitoring system we can say illness due to influenza has begun to increase in the community to a degree that is typical for this time of year.

It is still advisable for persons at high risk of influenza related complications to be vaccinated.

In addition, health care providers who are licensed to prescribe medication, may consider the use of amantadine or rimantidine as treatments or preventives for influenza A. These are especially recommended for high risk patients, such as the elderly and infirm. Rimantidine is less likely to cause dizziness or other neurologic effects and is preferred. Newly available neuramidase inhibitors, such as Tamiflu^® and Relenza^® may be considered as treatment options only.

Please remind families with children not to give aspirin to children who are suspected as having a viral illness, such as influenza.

Members of the general public seeking information about influenza vaccine or needing addresses and telephone numbers of health department district office influenza immunization locations may be referred to the Communicable Disease (CD) hotline, 206-296-4949. This hotline contains recorded messages that can be accessed at anytime. In addition, Public Health's web site contains general information about influenza and influenza vaccination that may be useful: www.metrokc.gov/health/prevcont/influenza.htm

To assist health care providers in providing treatment advice to patients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has several influenza related resources on the world wide web. The following web address provides access to influenza surveillance activity worldwide and provides access to influenza advisories: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm

Information about antiviral medications for influenza prevention and treatment can be found at the following web sites. The first one listed contains information about the use of amantidine and rimantidine, and the subsequent listings are for Relenza^® and tamiflu respectively.