# 3301
As has been alluded to over the past few weeks, the CDC has slowly been moving away from the daily updating of H1N1 numbers – first to a thrice weekly schedule two weeks ago – and now going to a once-every-Friday update.
Given that only a small percentage of suspect cases get tested by the states anymore, and that we are likely missing a certain number of flu-related fatalities as well, the numbers we’ve been getting over the past couple of weeks no longer reflect reality.
There have likely been hundreds of thousands of cases in the United States by now, and so today’s totals of 13,217 cases and 27 deaths are of little value.
It is simply time to begin using more macro oriented reporting tools, like Fluview and the 122 MRS (122 Cities Mortality Reporting System) to track the impact of this virus.
We are truly now in a marathon, not a sprint.
Below you’ll find the CDC’s announcement of their new reporting schedule.
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Questions and Answers About CDC's Online Reporting
On this Page
- Case Count Reporting Frequency
- Map Reporting Frequency
- Case Count Reporting Criteria
- Map Reporting Criteria
- Other Reporting Sources CDC Recommends
Case Count Reporting Frequency
How often is the state case count updated?
As of Wednesday, June 3, 2009, the list of states with confirmed or probable human cases of novel H1N1 flu are updated weekly, at approximately 11 AM on Fridays. Case counts are available online on the Novel H1N1 Flu Situation Update page.
Why are the case counts updated only once a week?
The case counts are based on reports from the states. States report new cases to CDC once a week. Case count reporting changed from daily to once a week to decrease the reporting burden placed on individual states.
Why do I sometimes hear about cases on the news before I hear about them from CDC?
CDC does not report new cases of novel H1N1 flu until they are officially reported to CDC by states. States may publicly report something before they have officially reported to CDC or before the report has been processed by CDC. Occasionally the media may report on a case even before a state does. In these cases, it’s possible that reports may precede CDC official reporting. If there is a discrepancy between these state case counts and CDC case counts, data from the state health departments should be used as the most current and accurate number.
Map Reporting Frequency
How often is the flu activity map updated?
The flu activity map is updated once a week. The map is one category of national flu surveillance, designed to provide a national picture of flu activity. Each week, during the flu season, a surveillance report, called “Flu View,” is published on Friday. The Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in the Influenza Division at CDC collects, compiles and analyzes information on flu activity year-round in the United States to produce FluView. The flu activity reported, by state and territorial epidemiologists and reflected in the flu activity map, indicates geographic spread of both seasonal flu and novel H1N1 flu viruses. The map does not measure the severity of flu activity. Usually FluView is published from October through mid-May, but in light of the current novel H1N1 flu investigation, weekly publication of FluView will continue over the summer months.
