Southern California Respiratory Viruses

We continue to see increasing RSV in the community and one hospital last week had an influenza A isolated. We have an occasional Parainfluenza type 2 but that is slowing down as we approach the winter. We expect RSV to continue to increase and stay at endemic levels for the next month before slowing down. The current rates for RSV are well over 10%. We anticipate that influenza will start to pick up over the next week.

Be aware that the CDC has issued a statement in which preliminary data from a limited number of states indicates that the prevalence of influenza A (H1N1) virus strains resistant to the antiviral medication oseltamivir is high. Because of this, the interim recommendations for antiviral treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza during the 2008-09 influenza season include the use of Oseltamivir or Zanimivir and not the first generation agents (Amantidine/Rimantidine).
The information can be seen at the following link:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/index.htm.

RSV Picking up in Southern California

RSV season has officially arrived. As you can see from the graphs below, the absolute number of positive specimens has picked up over the last two weeks and the percentage of positives has just surpassed the 10% mark (last week, 12%). We expect the trend to continue throughout the next few months and expect the peak sometime in January. As far as influenza, there has been very little influenza activity from all reporting hospitals and we have yet to see a significant increase in influenza like illnesses from reporting hospitals. Stay tuned.

RSV Activity

Respiratory Viral Activity

Respiratory Viral Activity In Southern California