The New York State Department of Health (DOH) released the annual influenza reporting guidance earlier this week. Starting October 3, 2021, through May 21, 2022, hospitals are required to report the daily aggregate number of laboratory confirmed influenza cases to DOH weekly via the “Weekly Influenza Hospitalizations” survey on the Health Electronic Response Data System (HERDS) in the Health Commerce System.
Patients with laboratory confirmed influenza should be included in weekly HERDS reporting if the patient is admitted to the inpatient unit of a hospital [overnight stay is not required], or if the patients was kept in observation for more than 24 hours. More information on reporting inclusion and exclusion criteria and how to enter data into HERDs is in the guidance (attached).
As with prior years, health care workers must show documentation of vaccination against influenza or wear a surgical or procedure mask.