Influenza Surveillance

The Southern Nevada Health District receives reports of positive influenza (flu) results from local laboratories and/or health care providers.

Influenza can occur throughout the year and surveillance for flu finds that most cases occur between October and May. The Southern Nevada Health District’s surveillance follows the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and tracks the total case counts, deaths and types of circulating virus.

Flu season case counts in this report include confirmed cases reported during flu season between October and May. Case counts might not reflect the actual number of flu cases in Clark County since most people with flu do not seek medical care or, if they do, they might not be tested.

Influenza surveillance is a tool that is used to determine when Southern Nevadans start to get sick with flu, if new or mutated strains of flu virus begin to circulate in the community, and to determine the severity of the local flu season. Each year, international surveillance helps vaccine manufacturers prepare the right vaccine for the upcoming influenza season.