Flu is picking up early in Florida, with the H1N1 strain causing most confirmed cases so far this season, according to the Florida Department of Health's latest weekly surveillance report.
The state's Flu Review for the week of Oct. 25 to Oct. 31 found that the share of flu tests coming back positive increased, as did the share of emergency department visits diagnosed as flu, both compared with the previous three-week average. The department's report for the week before showed the same upward trends.
ER visits diagnosed as flu increased in six of the state's seven surveillance regions that week, the report says. Only the northwest region held steady.
H1N1 leads so far
Of flu A samples the state has subtyped since the season began in early October, 5,882 were the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain, compared with 170 H3 and 172 other H1 samples, the report shows. No influenza B Victoria cases had been identified. H3 was the dominant strain in each of the past two seasons, according to the report.
The state recorded two new flu outbreaks that week, one in Volusia County and one in Martin County. The week before, it had recorded none. Florida does not require individual flu cases to be reported, so the department tracks outbreaks, ER visits and lab results instead.
All figures are provisional, the department notes.
