Abstract
Objective: To analyse syndromic surveillance data for influenza, obtained from the Catalan sentinel pharmacy network during the 2018−2019 influenza season. Methods. Data collected from cases of influenza-like syndrome reported by the 60 sentinel pharmacies of Catalonia during the period from October 1, 2018 to May 19, 2019 were used. The IBMSPSS programme and the CUSUM method (EPIDAT programme) were used to analyse the characteristics of cases reported and to determine the onset, maximum peak and duration of influenza epidemic. Results. A total of 1,000 cases of influenza-like syndrome were reported during the period of study. The influenza epidemic began on week 1, 2019 (CUSUM = 2.9), the maximum peak was reached
on week 4, 2019 (CUSUM = 17.1), and the epidemic ended on week 8, 2019 (CUSUM <2). A total of 48% of reported cases were men and 52% were women. The average age of reported cases was 40.9 years. The age of reported cases was 0-4 years in 2.1% of cases, 5-14 years in 8.7%, 15-64 years in 77.3%, and 65 or more years in 11.9%. A total of 67.4% of reported cases were detected in the community pharmacy, and 32.6% of cases were referred to primary care teams. The most frequent symptom, apart from fever, was general malaise (89%) and the least frequent was respiratory distress (13.5%). Ninety-three patients with influenza-like syndrome (9.3%) had been vaccinated against influenza during the 2018-2019 vaccination campaign. Conclusions. The influenza syndromic surveillance system based on the sentinel pharmacy network has made it possible to detect the week of onset and the duration of the influenza epidemic in Catalonia in the 2018-2019 season. The study has obtained information on influenza morbidity not assisted in health centres.
Keywords
Flu; Syndromic surveillance; Sentinel pharmacies; Influenza epidemic; Flu vaccination
Bibliographic citation
Plans P, Carmona G, Jané M, Xarxa de farmàcies sentinella de Catalunya. Vigilància sindròmica de la grip a Catalunya durant la temporada de grip 2018-2019. Butll Epidemiol Catalunya. 2019;40(07):139-147.
Audience
Professionals
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