title: Seasonal influenza morbidity estimates obtained from telephone surveys, 2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed telephone surveys as a novel surveillance method, comparing data obtained by telephone with existing national influenza surveillance systems, and evaluated the utility of telephone surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the 2007 National Immunization Survey-Adult (NIS-Adult) to estimate the incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI), medically attended ILI, provider-diagnosed influenza, influenza testing, and treatment of influenza with antiviral medications during the 2006-2007 influenza season.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the January-May BRFSS, among persons aged 18 years and older, the cumulative incidence of seasonal ILI and provider-diagnosed influenza was 37.9 and 5.7 adults per 100 persons, respectively. Monthly medically attended ILI and provider-diagnosed influenza among adults were temporally associated with influenza activity, as documented by national surveillance. With the NIS-Adult survey data, estimated provider-diagnosed influenza, influenza testing, and antiviral treatment were 2.8%, 1.4%, and 0.6%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our telephone interview-based estimates of influenza morbidity were consistent with those from national influenza surveillance systems. Telephone surveys may provide an alternative method by which population-based influenza morbidity information can be gathered.
authors.affiliation: Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. lkamimoto@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kamimoto
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Euler
authors.forename: Peng-Jun
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reingold
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hadler
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gershman
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farley
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Terebuh
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lynfield
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Albanese
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Allen S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schaffner
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Finelli
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bresee
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Singleton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology