1. Triggering interventions for influenza: the ALERT algorithm.
- Author
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Reich NG, Cummings DA, Lauer SA, Zorn M, Robinson C, Nyquist AC, Price CS, Simberkoff M, Radonovich LJ, and Perl TM
- Subjects
- Colorado epidemiology, Health Surveys statistics & numerical data, Hospitals statistics & numerical data, Humans, Influenza A virus isolation & purification, Maryland epidemiology, Prospective Studies, Seasons, Disease Outbreaks prevention & control, Influenza, Human epidemiology, Influenza, Human prevention & control, Population Surveillance methods, Software
- Abstract
Background: Early, accurate predictions of the onset of influenza season enable targeted implementation of control efforts. Our objective was to develop a tool to assist public health practitioners, researchers, and clinicians in defining the community-level onset of seasonal influenza epidemics., Methods: Using recent surveillance data on virologically confirmed infections of influenza, we developed the Above Local Elevated Respiratory Illness Threshold (ALERT) algorithm, a method to identify the period of highest seasonal influenza activity. We used data from 2 large hospitals that serve Baltimore, Maryland and Denver, Colorado, and the surrounding geographic areas. The data used by ALERT are routinely collected surveillance data: weekly case counts of laboratory-confirmed influenza A virus. The main outcome is the percentage of prospective seasonal influenza cases identified by the ALERT algorithm., Results: When ALERT thresholds designed to capture 90% of all cases were applied prospectively to the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 influenza seasons in both hospitals, 71%-91% of all reported cases fell within the ALERT period., Conclusions: The ALERT algorithm provides a simple, robust, and accurate metric for determining the onset of elevated influenza activity at the community level. This new algorithm provides valuable information that can impact infection prevention recommendations, public health practice, and healthcare delivery., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.)
- Published
- 2015
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