Johnson County Health Department - EPI Update Newsletter

Seasonal influenza is not a reportable disease in Kansas. The most common test used in diagnosing influenza (a rapid test that determines whether influenza antibodies or antigen are present in a clinical specimen) is not considered a definitive lab test. Positive results from a rapid test show that influenza is probable. Cultures are considered the definitive test for influenza. A positive influenza culture is required in Kansas for a case of flu to be confirmed.

Because influenza is not officially reportable, local health departments do not require demographic information on every ill person with a positive rapid test result. For tracking purposes, reports of numbers of positive rapid flu tests within a given period of time (day or week) are appreciated, as are demographic and other information about persons with positive influenza cultures. Please feel free to call a Johnson County Health Department epidemiologist at 913-826-1201 with any questions.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has received a report of the season's first two flu deaths as a direct result of influenza. The individuals were from North Central Kansas and both over the age of 70.

"For individuals at high risk for severe complications from the flu, it can be a very difficult illness to overcome,” said Dr. Howard Rodenberg, KDHE Division of Health Director. “Our hearts go out to the families suffering this loss.”

“We encourage everyone to get a flu shot, especially if they are at high risk for complications,” Rodenberg added. “Flu season can last into May in Kansas.”

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Outbreak in Turkey
As of January 13, 2006, the H5N1 subtype of avian influenza has been detected in 18 patients in Turkey. Human cases have been reported in nine of Turkey’s 81 provinces. Three human cases, all in the same family, have been fatal. Poultry outbreaks are confirmed in 11 Turkish provinces. Possible poultry outbreaks are under investigation in another 14 provinces, and investigators believe that outbreaks in backyard poultry date back to November 2005.

Avian Influenza Suspected in Indonesian Woman’s Death; Two Additional Deaths in China
A 29-year-old Indonesian woman died January 11 after being admitted to a hospital three days previously. Samples have been sent to a WHO-sanctioned Hong Kong laboratory to confirm the cause of the woman’s death. If avian influenza is confirmed, it will be Indonesia’s twelfth fatality from the H5N1 virus.

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The KDHE Center for Public Health Preparedness and the Office of Communications would like to make you aware of a resource that has been added to the KDHE Bioterrorism Web site. A set of fact sheets on the Category A and B Disease/Biological agents translated into six different languages is accessible at http://www.ksbiot.org/diseases_agents.html in PDF. There are also two fact sheets on pandemic and seasonal influenza.

You will find an easy to use matrix to print or download the documents that have been translated into Spanish, Vietnamese, German, Laotian, Chinese and Korean. To download any of the documents, use the right mouse button, select “Download target as…” and select the location on your computer where you want to save the documents. The matrix also contains links to the information available on the CDC Web site for each agent.

Translations in several other languages are in the works and will be added to this matrix as they become available. If you have determined that you have a population that speaks a language not available, please contact Mike Cameron by email at Mcamero1@kdhe.state.ks.us and KDHE will get a set of fact sheets translated for that population.

Emergency preparedness tip sheets will also be translated. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Mike Cameron by email or by phone at 785-368-8053 or Mike Heideman by email at mheidema@kdhe.state.ks.us or by phone at 785-296-4363.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is urging Kansas families to get vaccinated for whooping cough (pertussis). The state has seen a significant increase in pertussis cases in 2005, despite availability of new vaccine for older children and adults. The increase in Kansas is reflective of what has been going on nationally and began in 2004.

As of Dec. 19, the number of pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Kansas rose to 535, which is much higher than in previous years. (Of the 535 cases, 269 are confirmed and 266 are probable cases) Sixty-one counties are experiencing at least one case of pertussis. Four counties comprise 51 percent of the cases and they are Douglas, Johnson, Reno, and Sedgwick.

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To see upcoming workshops, satellite broadcasts, and more at the Johnson County Health Department, check out the What’s New? page of our website to see our calendar of events.

December Communicable Disease Report:

Disease Category	Dec 2005	Dec 5yr Avg	YTD 2005	2004 Total	2003 Total	2002 Total
Enteric Diseases:
Salmonella	9	5	95	85	50	38
Central Nervous System:
Meningitis, Aseptic (including viral and fungal meningitis)	0	1.2	11	29	14	26
West Nile Encephalitis/Meningitis	0	0	5+	2+	5	2
West Nile Fever	0	0	0+	1+	0	0
Sexually Transmitted Infections:
Infection Numbers (excluding HIV/AIDS - see below)	81	76.4	1,042	981	849	876
Vaccine Preventable Diseases:
Influenza, A&B	0	0.4	4	1	7	1
Measles	0	0	0	0	0	0
Pertussis	5	1	31	19	5	4
Varicella	25*+	n/a	256*+	51*+	*	*
M. tuberculosis:
Confirmed Cases	0!	0.6	10	7	14	12
Rare Diseases (other than listed):
Brucellosis	0	0	0	2	0	0
HIV and AIDS	July-Sep 2005	July-Sep 5yr avg	YTD 2005	2004 Total	2003 Total	2002 Total
HIV	4	2.8	24	17	18	19
AIDS	3	3.4	20	26	15	8

* Became reportable in June 2004
+ Includes probable as well as confirmed cases
! 19 cases under investigation
n/a not applicable

Communicable disease reporting is the cornerstone of public health surveillance and disease control. Please remember to maintain an index of suspicion for bioterrorism and reportable disease, and give us a call if you have any questions or concerns (913-826-1303). On behalf of the Disease Containment Staff, thank you for your continued support.

Johnson County government does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age and handicapped status in employment or the provision of programs and services.