The Communicable Disease Control Branch (CDCB) regularly receives data on cases of flu & flu-like illness and other common respiratory illnesses in the South Australian community. Assessment of these data is important in the planning for flu pandemics.

As a convenient feedback device for general practitioners, the CDCB updates the influenza and respiratory illness charts on a weekly basis.

Influenza

The laboratory data are provided by the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science , SouthPath Laboratories at Flinders Medical Centre and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Laboratories. Clinical diagnoses are provided by the South Australian participants of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioner’s Australian Sentinel Practice Network (ASPREN). Emergency department diagnoses are provided by the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the Women's and Children's Hospital, the Noarlunga Health Services Incorporated and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. 

A laboratory diagnosis of influenza requires a viral culture, virus antigen detection, a four-fold antibody titre rise between paired specimens of sera or a nucleic acid test.

Influenza is a notifiable disease.

Respiratory illnesses

The laboratory data are provided by the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Laboratories and SouthPath Laboratories.