According to The National Flu Surveillance Network
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK-The National Flu Surveillance Network (NFSN) reports the winter flu season was less intense than prior years. A division of ZymeTx, Inc., a US viral disease management company, NFSN is an online disease surveillance service that tracks influenza outbreaks. It consists of about 875 healthcare facilities representing 4,000 physicians. The NFSN received 26,317 confirmed flu reports between September 1, 1999 and March 31, 2000. Physicians used the ZymeTx 20-minute point-of-care flu diagnostic test to detect Influenza A and B. Called ZstatFlu, the test has a 99% specificity using a throat swab specimen. Data shows Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Oklahoma City, and the state of New York reported the most flu cases. NFSN data can be found on the Internet site, www.fluwatch.com.
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.