County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Acute Communicable Disease Control
313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 240-7941
Fax: (213) 482-4856
E-Mail:acdc2@ph.lacounty.gov

Have questions about Flu H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccinations or services, or need more information? Call 2-1-1.

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Reporting Influenza

Special Cases of Influenza Are REPORTABLE in Los Angeles County

Individual cases of seasonal influenza are not routinely reportable. However, the following situations should be reported immediately by phone:

• Outbreaks of suspected influenza or other respiratory illnesses
  • Contact: Morbidity Unit at (888) 397-3993 or the County Operator at 213-974-1234 after hours and on the weekends
  • Definition: Acute febrile respiratory infection (AFRI) is defined as any illness with a fever equal to or greater than 100º F accompanied by a cough or a sore throat in the absence of a known cause. A cluster is three or more cases of AFRI occurring within 48 to 72 hours, in residents who are in close proximity to each other (e.g., in the same area of the facility). An outbreak is a sudden increase of AFRI cases over the normal background rate or when any resident tests positive for influenza. One case of confirmed influenza by any testing method in a long-term care facility resident is an outbreak.
• Influenza-related pediatric ICU cases and pediatric deaths
  • Contact: ACDC at (213) 240-7941
  • Definition: Deaths from influenza in persons less than 18 years are reportable in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) also participates in the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) surveillance for severe pediatric influenza cases. The case definition is as follows: age 0-17 years; a clinical syndrome consistent with influenza or complications of influenza; confirmation by laboratory testing; and hospitalization in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) or death (with no period of complete recovery between the illness and death). After a case has been reported, ACDC attempts to confirm the diagnosis with specialized testing in the LAC DPH Laboratory.
  • Case Report Forms
    • Severe Pediatric Influenza

 

 

• Pediatric Influenza Death Form

• Suspected cases of avian influenza
  • Contact: ACDC 24/7 at (213) 240-7941
  • Definition: Suspected cases of avian influenza should have pneumonia confirmed with x-rays, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or other severe respiratory illness for which an alternate diagnosis has not been established, AND history of travel within ten days of symptom onset to a country with documented H5N1 avian influenza in poultry and/or humans.
  Testing for influenza A (H5) will be considered case-by-case basis for patients with:
  
  • Documented temperature of >38ºC (>100.4ºF) AND
  • One or more of the following: cough, sore throat, shortness of breath AND
  • A history of contact with poultry (e.g., visited a poultry farm or bird market, household raising poultry, etc.) OR
  • A history of contact with a known or suspected human case of influenza A (type H5) within ten days of symptom onset.