November 1 - 7, 2020 (MMWR Week 45) Highlights

Flu activity level was ‘minimal’ for 5 th consecutive week. Flu activity rating explanation and weekly flu reports can be found here: http://www.ccbh.net/flu-weekly-reports/ 4.0% of deaths reported were due to pneumonia-related causes. 0 flu related death was reported this week. 0 confirmed case of flu associated hospitalization was reported this week. 2.2% of emergency room visits were due to flu like illness.

Local Flu Activity Dashboard (All data are preliminary and may change as updated data are received.)

Current Week Flu Activity Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 X Weekly Low Mod High Intensity

Table 1. Cuyahoga County Influenza Data Dashboard Influenza (Flu) Indicator Current Activity Compared #Weeks 1234 2020-2021 Season Activity Level to Last Week Total/Trend Percent of pneumonia deaths & number Pneumonia: 4.00% (29.5%) 1 No flu deaths to date. Increased of flu related deaths - [Fig 1] Flu: 0 deaths Stable 5 pneumonia due to Covid-19

Influenza like illness (ILI) doctor visits [Fig 2] Cuyahoga: 1.00% ∞ 1 Flu associated hospitalizations [ Fig 3] 0 Stable 5 n=0.

School absenteeism due to ILLNESS Lower than 5-year median but ONLY – [Fig 4A] 1.66% 74.5% 1 starting to increase.

School absenteeism due to ALL Lower than 5-year median. 1.29% (34.7%) 1 CAUSES – [Fig 4B] Emergency room visit due to ILI [Fig 5] 2.65% 17.9% 1 Below 5-year median. Sales of over-the-counter medications 204 1.5% 2 Below 5-year median. used to treat ILI. [Fig 6] Congestion & cough complaints [Fig 8} 9.84% 17.1% 1 Beginning uptick in percentage. Vomiting & nausea complaints [Fig 9] 9.38% (7.7%) 1 Elevated likely Covid related Diarrhea complaints [ Fig 10] 2.87% (2.7%) 1 Elevated likely Covid related

1Due to small percentages, caution should be used while interpreting the ‘Activity Compared to Last Week’ box. 2For figures 2, 4a-4b, = (Increase > 20%), = (Decrease > -20%), = Stable (-19.9% to +19.9%) 3For figures 1, 5-10, = (Increase > 5%), = (Decrease > -5%), = Stable (-4.9% to +4.9%) 4For flu related deaths (Fig 1) & Fig 3, = (Increase # of deaths/cases), = (Decrease # of deaths/cases), = Stable (Same # of deaths/cases)

Page 1 of 8 November 1 - 7, 2020 (MMWR Week 45)

Flu Summary

This report is intended to provide an overview of influenza related activity occurring in Cuyahoga County while providing some information on state activity that is one week behind the current week. It will be published on a weekly basis and can be found at the following website: http://www.ccbh.net/flu-weekly-reports/

Note: Data are provisional and subject to change. Updates will be included in future reports.

Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality 4.0% of deaths reported were due to pneumonia for this week. 84.6% of these deaths were to adults 65 years old or older. No flu-related deaths were reported this week ( Figure 1).

Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) Reports One ILI sentinel provider reported 1.00% patients had ILI symptoms this week ( Figure 2 ). ILI is defined as a fever ( ≥ ◦ 100 F), and cough and/or sore throat.

Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations and Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality In Cuyahoga County, 0 confirmed cases of influenza-associated hospitalizations were reported this week (Figure 3). There were 2 statewide confirmed influenza associated hospitalization was reported in week 45. No pediatric flu deaths were reported so far this flu season in Ohio.

School Absenteeism Participating schools in Cuyahoga County reported the percentage (median = 1.7%) of absenteeism due to any illness on Tuesday ( Figure 4A) . Figure 4B shows the total absenteeism due to any reason (median = 1.3%).

Emergency Department (ED) visits and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medication Sales 2.7% of all ED visits were for fever + ILI symptoms. About the same number of patients visited EDs for fever and ILI symptoms this week compared to the previous 5-year weekly median (Figure 5). Figure 6 shows 90 fewer OTC products per drugstore were purchased this week than the previous 5-year weekly median.

Figure 7 shows, by zip code, the fever + ILI symptoms collected for Figure 5. Three other maps show, by zip code, the frequency of ED visits for three symptoms that are common during the fall and winter seasons and are of interest to the general public: congestion and cough ( Figure 8) , vomiting and nausea (Figure 9) , and diarrhea (Figure 10) .

Descriptions of data sources used to complete the weekly influenza write-up can be found on the last page of this report.

Additional Links • Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report – http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly • Ohio Influenza Surveillance – https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/ohio- immunization-program/ohio-flu-activity/ohio-flu-activity • HealthMap Flu Trends – http://www.healthmap.org/flutrends/# • Vaccine Finder – https://vaccinefinder.org/ Page 2 of 8

Figure 1: Percentage of Deaths Due to Pneumonia & Influenza (P&I) Cleveland, Euclid, Lakewood, & Parma Vital Statistics Departments 10.0%

8.0%

6.0%

4.0%

2.0%

0.0% 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 OCT NOV DEC MMWR Week FEB MAR APR MAY Pneumonia Influenza 5-Year P&I Median

Figure 2: Percent of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) Visits via Cuyahoga County ILI Sentinel Providers 5.0%

4.0%

3.0%

2.0%

1.0%

0.0% 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 OCT NOV DEC MMWR Week FEB MAR APR MAY Sentinel Providers 5-Year Median

Figure 3: Number of Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations in Cuyahoga County (using event date)

140 120 100 80 60 40

20 0 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 OCT NOV DEC MMWR Week FEB MAR APR MAY Flu A Flu B Unknown Flu Type 5-Year Median

Page 3 of 8 Figure 4A: School Absenteeism ( due to any illness) in Cuyahoga County

6.0% N 5.0% O 4.0% S 3.0% C H 2.0% O O 1.0% L 0.0% 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 OCT NOV DEC MMWR Week FEB MAR APR MAY 5-Year Median Current Year Absences

Figure 4B: School Absenteeism ( due to any reason) in Cuyahoga County

8.0% 7.0% N O 6.0%

5.0% S 4.0% C H 3.0% O 2.0% O L 1.0% 0.0% 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 OCT NOV DEC MMWR Week FEB MAR APR MAY 5-Year Median Current Year Absences

Page 4 of 8 Figure 5: Cuyahoga County Hospital ED Visits for ILI & Fever Symptoms by Age Group

400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 OCT NOV DEC MMWR Week FEB MAR APR MAY O - 4 Years Old 5 - 24 Years Old 25 - 49 Years Old 50 - 64 Years Old 65 Years and Older 5-Year Median

Figure 6: Comparison of Average Weekly OTC Products Sold in Cuyahoga County Drugstores 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 OCT NOV DEC MMWR Week FEB MAR APR MAY Antifever Cold_liquid_ped Cold_tablet_ped Cough_syrup_ped Electrolytes_ped Thermometers 5-Year Median

Page 5 of 8 Figure 7 Rate of Fever and Influenza-Like Illness Complaints per 100,000 by Zip Code 4412344132 Ü November 1st - 7th, 2020 - MMWR Week 45 44119 0 2.5 5 44117 Miles Rate 44110 44143 0.00 - 6.10 14.15 - 22.85 44108 44112 44040 6.11 - 14.14 22.86 - 42.95 44121 44103 44114 44106 44118 44124 44115 44140 44107 44113 44104 44102 44120 44116 44127 44122 44111 44145 44105 44022 44109 44126 44144 44128 44135 44070 44137 44125 44142 44129 44134 44131 44146 44139 44138 44017 44130

Sources: EpiCenter emergency department chief compliant data & 2010 TIGER/Line Shapefile 44147 Spatial Reference: NAD 1983 StatePlane OH North FIPS 3401 (Feet) 44149 44136 44133 44141 Classification: Quantile Created by: R. Stacklin Date: Novenber 2020 Data are preliminary.

Figure 8 Rate of Congestion and Cough Complaints per 100,000 by Zip Code 4412344132 Ü November 1st - 7th, 2020 - MMWR Week 45 44119 0 2.5 5 Miles 44117 Rate 44110 0.00 - 30.99 52.23 - 86.96 44143 44108 44112 44040 31.00 - 52.22 86.97 - 132.43 44121 44103 44114 44106 44118 44124 44115 44140 44107 44113 44104 44102 44120 44116 44127 44122 44111 44145 44105 44022 44109 44126 44144 44128 44135 44070 44137 44125 44142 44129 44134 44131 44146 44139 44138 44017 44130

Sources: EpiCenter emergency department chief compliant data & 2010 TIGER/Line Shapefile Spatial Reference: NAD 1983 StatePlane OH 44147 44149 44136 44133 North FIPS 3401 (Feet) 44141 Classification: Quantile Created by: R. Stacklin Date: November 2020 Data are preliminary. Page 6 of 8 Figure 9 Rate of Vomiting and Nausea Complaints per 100,000 by Zip Code 4412344132 Ü November 1st - 7th, 2020 - MMWR Week 45 44119 0 2.5 5 44117 Miles Rate 44110 44143 0.00 - 34.44 54.20 - 77.48 44108 44112 44040 34.45 - 54.19 77.49 - 160.00 44121 44103 44114 44106 44118 44124 44115 44140 44107 44113 44104 44102 44120 44116 44127 44122 44111 44145 44105 44022 44109 44126 44144 44128 44135 44070 44137 44125 44142 44129 44134 44131 44146 44139 44138 44017 44130

Sources: EpiCenter emergency department chief compliant data & 2010 TIGER/Line Shapefile 44147 Spatial Reference: NAD 1983 StatePlane OH 44149 44136 44133 44141 North FIPS 3401 (Feet) Classification: Quantile Created by: R. Stacklin Date: November 2020 Data are preliminary.

Figure 10 Rate of Diarrhea Complaints per 100,000 by Zip Code 4412344132 Ü 0 2.5 5 44119 Miles November 1st - 7th, 2020 - MMWR Week 45 44117 44110 Rate 44143 15.50 - 20.92 44108 0.00 - 7.23 44112 44040 44121 7.24 - 15.49 20.93 - 60.36 44103 44114 44106 44118 44124 44115 44140 44107 44113 44104 44102 44120 44116 44127 44122 44111 44145 44105 44022 44109 44126 44144 44128 44135 44070 44137 44125 44142 44129 44134 44131 44146 44139 44138 44017 44130

Five types of data sources are examined on a weekly basis to help determine the influenza activity level for Cuyahoga County:

1) Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Seasonal Influenza Activity Summary : The ODH influenza summary provides state-wide data . Data used from this report include: frequency of fever plus influenza- like illness (ILI) associated hospitalizations, number of influenza-associated pediatric mortalities, and number of lab-confirmed influenza cases.

A) Influenza-associated Hospitalizations (ODRS): Influenza-associated hospitalizations are reported by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) and hospitals using the Ohio Disease Reporting System (ODRS). Hospitalizations can be used as an indicator of the severity of illness during a particular influenza season. This condition became reportable in January 2009.

B) Influenza-associated Pediatric Mortality (ODRS): Influenza-associated pediatric mortalities are reported into ODRS by CCBH and hospital staff. Pediatric deaths can be an indicator of the severity of illness during the influenza season. This condition became reportable in 2005.

C) Sentinel Providers (ILINet): Sentinel providers, through the US Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet), collect outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) data. ILI is defined as a fever (> 100 F), and cough and/or sore throat without another known cause. Providers report the total number of patients seen, by age group, on a weekly basis. Sentinel providers also submit specimens for influenza testing to the ODH laboratory throughout the influenza season. There are 2 sentinel providers enrolled in Cuyahoga County for the 2019-2020 season.

2) Mortality Reporting System (Vital Statistics): Vital Statistics offices in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland, Euclid, Lakewood, & Parma) reports the percentage of deaths that are due to pneumonia or influenza that occur within their jurisdiction. Cleveland issues death certificates for 56 of the 59 cities in the county.

3) School Absenteeism data (due to illness and due to any reason): More than 50 Cuyahoga County schools provide absenteeism data for each Tuesday on the number children absent due to any illness or due to any reason as well as sentinel schools that report week absenteeism data.

4) National Retail Data Monitor (NRDM)-OTC Drug Purchases: The NRDM collects over-the-counter (OTC) drug sales information from Cuyahoga County chain drug stores and grocery stores. Pediatric cold products, anti-fever products, and thermometer sales are monitored on a weekly basis.

5) Emergency Department Visits (EpiCenter): EpiCenter collects emergency department chief complaint data from hospitals and urgent care facilities across Cuyahoga County and classifies them into symptom and syndrome categories. Rates for chief complaints regarding fever + ILI and other symptoms commonly detected during the winter are analyzed.

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