How does the health department know if ILI is really influenza A or B?
That information comes from virology surveillance. Sentinel providers around the state submit nasopharyngeal swabs to the Department of Health and Human Resources Office of Laboratory Services. The specimens are cultured in the lab, and typed. The Virology Surveillance System tells us what type of influenza virus is causing illness. Influenza isolates are further tested to determine if they are vaccine strain. Information from this system will be used to determine the composition of next years influenza vaccine. If you would like to be a sentinel provider, contact your local health department.
