Influenza Surveillance with Rapid Diagnostic Tests

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Abstract
Sir—We would like to respond to the letter by Robert Hudson [1] in which he incorrectly stated that “no government agency provides disease surveillance” for influenza. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in coordination with state and territorial health departments, has long conducted both virus and disease surveillance for influenza in the United States. One component of this system is a national network of volunteer sentinel physicians in 47 states who, each week from October through May, report the percentage of their patient visits that are for influenza-like illness. The CDC also collects and reports national data on influenza virus detection (by means of both virus isolation and rapid test); the mortality associated with pneumonia and influenza in 122 participating cities; and state-specific assessments of influenza activity, as reported by state and territorial epidemiologists [2]. The combined data provide an authoritative, comprehensive, and timely national assessment of influenza virus and disease activity and are relied upon by international and national public health authorities and physicians. The surveillance reports are updated each week during the months of October–May [3].