The official influenza season started on October 1, 2017. Amie Worthington at the KDHE Bureau of Epidemiology reports that the 2017-2018 season is more severe than the 2016-2017 season so far. Hospitalizations appear to be similar to the same week in 2014-2015, which was a high severity H3N2-predominant season. In the 2016-2017 season, 44 outbreaks of influenza were reported to KDHE, 66% of which were in long-term care. So far during the 2017-2018 season, a total of 31 influenza outbreaks have been reported, including 22 in long-term care.
Trends for 18+ years old by region by week this season are provided by the Kansas Syndromic Surveillance Program. Aggregate data on influenza outbreaks this season so far in long-term care providers:
| Northeast | 8 |
| Southeast | 1 |
| North Central | 2 |
| South Central | 9 |
| Northwest | 1 |
| Southwest | 1 |
Most reports come from emergency rooms throughout the state, on a voluntary basis. Very few reports originate from long-term care providers, making the resulting aggregate data less meaningful/useful. You can help! Use this form to report an influenza outbreak to KDHE. Outbreaks of any disease, including influenza, should be reported to the KDHE epidemiology hotline at 877-427-7317.
Stay up-to-date on influenza surveillance in Kansas.
