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Weekly Data for Week Ending October 2, 2009:

ACHA Influenza Like Illnesses (ILI) Surveillance in Colleges and Universities Project

ACHA has posted the latest weekly data from its Influenza Like Illnesses (ILI) Surveillance in Colleges and Universities Project. These data were submitted to ACHA by participating institutions of higher education for the week September 26 - October 2, 2009, and represents the sixth consecutive week for these reports.

In this weekly period of influenza activity, a total of 6,326 new ILI cases were reported (nine hospitalizations) among campus populations totaling over 3.3 million. Ninety-two percent of the 273 colleges and universities reported new ILI cases, as compared to 91 percent reporting new cases the prior week. The nationwide attack rate was 18.9 cases/10,000 students, six percent lower than the prior week’s rate.

The highest rates of activity are in states in the Mid-Atlantic region (Virginia, District of Columbia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania). The Northeast has the highest rates in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The Southeast is experiencing declining rates of disease activity except for Mississippi and Kentucky. The Midwest continues to experience sustained activity in Minnesota and Missouri. The Rocky Mountain region has not seen widespread activity though Montana and Wyoming have rates significantly greater than the national average. In the West and Southwest, significant increases in activity are observed in Oregon and Alaska, while Washington continues to experience declines in incidence of disease. Several states in this region continue to experience very low rates of disease. Again, no deaths were observed among the reporting i nstitutions for the weekly period of September 26th through October 2nd.

"The population surveyed by ACHA represents over one fifth of all college students nationally. Assuming proportionate distribution of ILI across most campus populations, we would estimate that about 183,000 cases have occurred among approximately 18 million college students nationwide. The outbreaks of influenza like illness thankfully remain relatively mild disease on our campuses. Among nearly 34,000 cases among 3.3 million students, there have been 57 hospitalizations and no deaths reported to ACHA. Students, parents, faculty and staff should continue to be reassured by the findings thus far," according to Dr. James C. Turner, president of the American Co llege Health Association and executive director of the department of student health at the University of Virginia.

Weekly and cumulative case data are posted at www.acha.org/ILI_Surveillance.cfm. Additionally, an Epicurve chart reflecting weekly case counts and weekly attack rates has now been included.

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