Border Infectious Disease Surveillance - Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections

Background

Viral and bacterial respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. International organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the Pan-American Health Organization, recognize the importance that surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI), COVID-like illness (CLI), and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) play in protecting the public from epidemics and pandemics of influenza and other respiratory infections. After the 2009 influenza pandemic, U.S.-Mexico surveillance systems were designed to monitor the burden of respiratory infections in the highly mobile communities that live, play, and work in the Southern border of the U.S.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) Surveillance

Activities

Since 2009, the Imperial County Public Health Department has conducted year-round enhanced surveillance of SARI at two acute-care hospitals: El Centro Regional Medical Center and Pioneers Memorial Hospital. Recently, a hospital in Mexicali, Baja California has been added as a sentinel site for SARI. Specimens collected at these sites are tested for viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) laboratory in San Diego, CA. Information collected about the respiratory pathogens circulating in Imperial County through SARI surveillance helps public health officials understand the burden of disease in the area, and can be helpful in designing prevention and intervention methods.

Influenza-Like Illness (ILI)/COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance

Activities

ILI/CLI cases are defined as those that present with fever ≥ 100°F, and either sore throat or cough; or any cause of pneumonia. BIDS enrolls ILI/CLI patients at a San Ysidro Health Urgent Care clinic near the San Diego-Tijuana border. Specimens collected at this site are tested for viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens at the NHRC laboratory in San Diego, CA. The information collected from test results and case report forms filled out can help inform public health campaigns, alert of outbreaks, and report the tendencies of disease spread on the U.S.-Mexico border region.