New Jersey's Active Influenza-like Illness (ILI) Surveillance Statistics
Week of February 12, 2001

Reports were received from 163 schools, with a total population of 118,157 students. The absenteeism rate was 6.06%. This rate is down from 8.87% the week before.

Reports were received from 62 nursing homes with a total population of 8,769. The reported influenza-like illness rate was 2.44%, down significantly from 4.73% the week before.

Reports were received from 55 hospital emergency departments. During the 24 hour surveillance period, a total of 5,360 patients were seen, of which 9.18% were being seen because of a respiratory influenza-like illness. This figure was down from 10.64% the week before.

In the past week, there have been no new viral cultures positive for influenza reported.

Nationwide, since October 1, 71% of influenza specimens typed have been A, and 29% have been B. Of those typed as A, 98% were H1N1 and 2% were H3N2. Of the H1N1, 95% were similar to the A New Caledonia strain that was included in this year's vaccine. The remaining 5% were similar to A Bayern. Although the A Bayern strain is antigenically distinct from the A New Caledonia strain, there is good cross-reactivity between the antibody produced by the A New Caledonia vaccine component and the A Bayern virus, thus this year's vaccine should provide good protection against A Bayern. All H3N2 virus isolated was antigenically similar to the A Panama strain included in this year's vaccine. Of the influenza B viruses isolated,52% have been antigenically similar to B Beijing which was included in this year's vaccine. The remaining 48% have been antigenically similar to B Sichuan which has good cross-reactivity with B Beijing. Thus this year's vaccine is providing good coverage against the virus strains known to be circulating in the United States at this time.

Influenza-like activity has declined slightly from the past week.. Reported influenza-like activity has not reached outbreak levels. This activity is similar to what is being reported from the rest of the United States. Although influenza-like activity has decreased in the past week, it is still reasonable to expect that influenza-like illness may increase again in all parts of New Jersey in the coming weeks.

Northeastern New Jersey

	Schools % Absent	Nursing Homes % with ILI	Emergency Departments % visits with ILI
Bergen	4.01	1.77	5.75
Essex	5.70	0.00	13.87
Hudson	6.68	0.00	9.31
Middlesex	5.06	1.94	12.79
Monmouth	3.50	1.16	4.90
Passaic	13.34	4.83	7.88
Union	8.10	2.47	10.36
Regional Total	6.08	2.34	10.35

Northwestern New Jersey

	Schools % Absent	Nursing Homes % with ILI	Emergency Departments % visits with ILI
Hunterdon	5.31	6.09	2.90
Mercer	8.01	NR	5.26
Morris	5.23	4.44	8.43
Somerset	NR	NR	NR
Sussex	5.43	0.99	0.00
Warren	7.77	0.76	4.35
Regional Total	6.34	2.97	4.89

Southern New Jersey

	Schools % Absent	Nursing Homes % with ILI	Emergency Departments % visits with ILI
Atlantic	6.88	3.50	4.36
Burlington	5.01	0.84	6.79
Camden	4.97	1.08	10.42
Cape May	5.83	3.15	13.51
Cumberland	4.22	2.75	6.31
Gloucester	6.12	2.18	5.30
Ocean	NR	NR	NR
Salem	6.23	5.48	11.54
Regional Total	5.74	2.51	7.09
Statewide Total	6.06	2.44	9.48

NR = no report