Ask an Expert: How Does the County Make Flu Reports?

Question: I saw a news story recently on the flu and the TV station said the information was provided by the County. I was curious as to how the County gathers the info?

Our County Public Health Officer, Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H. answered:

“The County Health and Human Services Agency conducts ongoing public health surveillance for over 80 reportable diseases and conditions.

While influenza is not always a reportable disease, we conduct year-round surveillance on the flu and receive reports from local hospitals and medical providers. We also work with certain schools, laboratories and clinics. 

The information is summarized in the Influenza Watch report, which we issue to the medical community—and the media—every Wednesday from October through April.

In the report you can find information such as total reported lab-confirmed flu cases, flu deaths, Intensive Care Unit admissions,  influenza outbreaks and the percentage of people who show up with influenza-like-illness at local emergency departments from week-to-week.”           

Are you curious about how something works in the County? Submit a question to communications@sdcounty.ca.gov for one of our resident experts.