Influenza surveillance
“All SARI cases are to be reported, case investigation completed and sample taken.”
ILI and SARI
Influenza-like illness (ILI) is an acute respiratory infection with a fever of 38°C or more, or a history of fever, and cough, starting within the last 10 days. It becomes severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) when the patient is admitted to hospital.
ILI is counted at the 78 sentinel sites, in the Weekly Parish Surveillance Report. SARI cases are reported from six hospital sentinel sites: Kingston Public Hospital, Bustamante Hospital for Children, Cornwall Regional Hospital, Mandeville Regional Hospital, St. Ann’s Bay Hospital and the University Hospital of the West Indies.
Specimens
One in ten ILI cases has a nasopharyngeal specimen taken, and every SARI case must have one. Specimens go to the National Public Health Laboratory for processing.
Source: National Surveillance Manual