HEALTH ALERT: Increase in Influenza Outbreaks in Long Term Care Facilities, January 13, 2017
Please distribute widely in your facility
Key points:
- Flu activity continues to increase with significant increases in influenza hospitalizations and outbreaks in long-term care facilities. As of January 7, there were a total of 28 outbreaks reported with 15 of those reported the last week of December and the first week of January. Of those outbreaks that had specimens sub-typed, H3N2 is the predominant sub-type identified.
- Please see ‘Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Influenza Outbreaks in Long Term Care Facilities during the 2016-17 Influenza Season’ (https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/flu-resources-health-professionals-and-schools) for recommendations about prevention and control of influenza outbreaks. Importantly, if an outbreak is identified, antiviral chemoprophylaxis is recommended for all eligible long-term care facility residents; regardless of whether they received influenza vaccine.
- Please report all influenza outbreaks to your local public health agency.
For questions about the information above, call 303-692-2700. For more information regarding influenza surveillance visit: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/influenza.
This blog publishes information typically sent to users of the Colorado Health Facilities Interactive (COHFI) system for health care entities regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Please note that COHFI is the official medium for business communication between the Department and licensed and/or Medicare/Medicaid certified health care entities. Health care entities should continue to monitor their email accounts routinely.
