Real-time responses to severe influenza outbreaks

Abstract

The USA is experiencing its worst influenza outbreak since the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, and this year the H3N2 strain is dominating, causing high rates of hospitalisation and mortality in people older than 65 years. New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley announced that apart from the 2009 season, this was the most severe influenza season New York had seen in almost a decade. In New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a health emergency when influenza levels soared early in January, 2013, to more than five times the levels seen in the previous winter.