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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
10:05
High-throughput Detection Method for Influenza Virus
Published on: February 4, 2012
Syndromic surveillance for influenzalike illness
Richard Lemay1, Abla Mawudeku, Yuanli Shi
1Global Public Health Intelligence Network, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. richard_lemay@phac-aspc.gc.ca
Summary
Emergency department visits for flu-like symptoms in young children can predict influenza outbreaks weeks earlier than traditional methods. This finding highlights the potential of pediatric emergency departments as early warning systems for infectious diseases.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease Surveillance
Background:
- Syndromic surveillance systems utilize emergency department (ED) data for early outbreak detection.
- Preliminary findings suggest ED data may offer earlier detection compared to traditional reporting methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between emergency department consultations for influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed influenza virus isolation in Ottawa, Canada.
- To evaluate the potential of pediatric emergency departments as sentinel surveillance sites for influenza.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study analyzed 5 influenza seasons in Ottawa, Canada.
- Time-series analysis was employed to correlate ED visits for ILI with community influenza virus isolation.
- Data included pediatric and adult patients presenting to 3 local hospitals.
Main Results:
- In 4 out of 5 seasons, ED visits for ILI in children under 5, particularly those with fever and respiratory symptoms, preceded influenza virus isolation by 1-4 weeks.
- A consistent temporal association was observed between pediatric ILI consultations and community influenza activity.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric emergency departments can serve as effective and cost-efficient sentinels for detecting influenza outbreaks.
- Regular monitoring of key symptoms in pediatric EDs can provide early warnings for influenza and other infectious diseases.
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