{"id":4350,"date":"2016-05-11T09:59:05","date_gmt":"2016-05-11T13:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/epidemiology\/?page_id=4350"},"modified":"2026-08-13T09:03:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T13:03:19","slug":"influenza-sentinel-surveillance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/epidemiology\/influenza-flu-in-virginia\/influenza-surveillance\/influenza-sentinel-surveillance\/","title":{"rendered":"Respiratory Virus Sentinel Surveillance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Healthcare providers are invited to <\/span>participate<\/span> in Virginia\u2019s Respiratory Virus Sentinel Surveillance Program to help <\/span>monitor respiratory virus trends and <\/span>better understand how influenza<\/span> and other respiratory viruses<\/span> are affecting our communities. <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Please join us in this important public health work!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each respiratory season, VDH partners with healthcare providers to enhance respiratory virus surveillance efforts in Virginia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Participating sites are asked to submit respiratory specimens weekly from patients with an influenza-like illness (ILI), which is defined as fever greater than or equal to 100\u00b0F (measured at home or provider\u2019s office) and a cough and\/or a sore throat. These specimens are sent to the state laboratory, the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), for virus testing and typing.\u00a0 <\/span>All collection materials and shipping costs are provided at no cost to the facility or patient.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

This program helps VDH determine which viruses are circulating in Virginia and monitor for <\/span>novel influenza strains<\/span><\/a> and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Additionally, this surveillance information helps guide respiratory disease prevention and control policies, national vaccine strain selection, and recommendations for patient care. <\/span><\/p>\n

Interested in Becoming a Sentinel Provider?<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

By sending respiratory specimens to DCLS for laboratory testing, sentinel providers play a critical role in state and national influenza and other respiratory virus surveillance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Providers of any specialty (e.g., family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, infectious diseases) in any type of practice (e.g., private practice, public health clinic, urgent care center, emergency room, university student health center) are eligible to be sentinel providers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Scan the QR code above or\u00a0<\/span><\/span>click this link<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0to <\/span>indicate<\/span> interest in program participation!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Download the Virginia Respiratory Virus Sentinel Surveillance Program Flyer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Please direct any questions about the respiratory virus <\/span>sentinel <\/span>surveillance program to <\/span><\/span>respiratory@vdh.virginia.gov<\/span><\/span><\/a> or contact your local health department at <\/span><\/span>www.vdh.virginia.gov\/local-health-districts\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Healthcare providers are invited to participate in Virginia\u2019s Respiratory Virus Sentinel Surveillance Program to help monitor respiratory virus trends and better understand how influenza and other respiratory viruses are affecting our communities. Please join us in this important public health work! 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