Surveillance of Influenza Detection in the New Vaccine Surveillance network, Kansas City 2025-2026
Presenter Status
Staff
Abstract Type
Clinical Research
Primary Mentor or Principal Investigator
Anjana Sasidharan
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
19-5-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
19-5-2026 12:00 PM
Abstract Text
Background:
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory illness that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. Common symptoms of the flu include high fever, cough, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and a stuffy or runny nose. There are four types of influenza viruses, types A and B are the most common in humans, with C being rare and D only infecting cattle. However, in late August of 2025, positive flu cases increased across the United States. The subtype influenza A H3N2 was the one being most reported according to CDC reports and World Health Organization. Our aim was to investigate the rate of influenza infections in children enrolled in CDC’s New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN).
Methods:
Between August 2025 and January 2026, children < 18 years old with symptoms of acute respiratory infections (ARI), were enrolled at Children’s Mercy Hospital (inpatient, Emergency Department and outpatient clinics). Mid turbinate swabs (MTS) collected in universal transport media (UTM) were tested using QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Plus multiplex PCR assay (Qiagen) that detects twenty-one respiratory pathogens including influenza A and influenza B. Additionally, demographics and clinical information from the patients were collected via parent interview and medical health records.
Results:
A total of 1,710 samples were enrolled between August of 2025 to January 2026. Influenza A was detected in 266/1,710 (15.55%) samples, while influenza B was detected in 33/1,710 (1.92%) samples. Influenza A (H3N2) predominated, accounting for 255/266 cases (85%), while Influenza A (pdmH1N1) was identified in 7 cases (2.3%).
Among influenza A positive samples, 44 of 266 (16.54%) had co‑infections, most commonly with seasonal coronaviruses (22/44; 50%) and rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV) (9/44; 20.45%). Among influenza B positive samples, 3/33 (9.09%) had co‑infections, including RSV (1/33; 3.03%), Coronavirus HKU1 (1/33; 3.03%), and SARS‑CoV‑2 (1/33; 3.03%).
Of the total influenza detections (n=299), the majority occurred in the urgent care setting (148/299; 49%), followed by the emergency department (117/299; 39%), inpatient settings (22/299 7.4%), and primary care clinics (12/299; 4.0%). Influenza detections were most frequent among White (109/299; 36.45%) and Black/African American children (105/299; 35.11%), compared with Hispanic/Latino children (55/299 18.39%).
Females accounted for a slightly higher proportion of influenza‑positive cases (157/299 53.0%) compared with males (142/299 ,47.0%). The age distribution of influenza‑positive children was as follows: 0–5 months (6/299; 2.0%), 6–23 months (44/299; 15%), 2–4 years (74/299; 25%), and 5–17 years (175/299, 59%). The most reported symptoms among influenza‑positive children were fever (262/299 87.62%) and cough (201/299 67.22%).
Conclusions:
Influenza detection through the CDC surveillance network plays a critical role in raising awareness of increasing influenza activity in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Data collected through the NVSN support early detection and improve preparedness for future vaccine development for upcoming influenza seasons.
Surveillance of Influenza Detection in the New Vaccine Surveillance network, Kansas City 2025-2026
Background:
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory illness that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. Common symptoms of the flu include high fever, cough, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and a stuffy or runny nose. There are four types of influenza viruses, types A and B are the most common in humans, with C being rare and D only infecting cattle. However, in late August of 2025, positive flu cases increased across the United States. The subtype influenza A H3N2 was the one being most reported according to CDC reports and World Health Organization. Our aim was to investigate the rate of influenza infections in children enrolled in CDC’s New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN).
Methods:
Between August 2025 and January 2026, children < 18 years old with symptoms of acute respiratory infections (ARI), were enrolled at Children’s Mercy Hospital (inpatient, Emergency Department and outpatient clinics). Mid turbinate swabs (MTS) collected in universal transport media (UTM) were tested using QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Plus multiplex PCR assay (Qiagen) that detects twenty-one respiratory pathogens including influenza A and influenza B. Additionally, demographics and clinical information from the patients were collected via parent interview and medical health records.
Results:
A total of 1,710 samples were enrolled between August of 2025 to January 2026. Influenza A was detected in 266/1,710 (15.55%) samples, while influenza B was detected in 33/1,710 (1.92%) samples. Influenza A (H3N2) predominated, accounting for 255/266 cases (85%), while Influenza A (pdmH1N1) was identified in 7 cases (2.3%).
Among influenza A positive samples, 44 of 266 (16.54%) had co‑infections, most commonly with seasonal coronaviruses (22/44; 50%) and rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV) (9/44; 20.45%). Among influenza B positive samples, 3/33 (9.09%) had co‑infections, including RSV (1/33; 3.03%), Coronavirus HKU1 (1/33; 3.03%), and SARS‑CoV‑2 (1/33; 3.03%).
Of the total influenza detections (n=299), the majority occurred in the urgent care setting (148/299; 49%), followed by the emergency department (117/299; 39%), inpatient settings (22/299 7.4%), and primary care clinics (12/299; 4.0%). Influenza detections were most frequent among White (109/299; 36.45%) and Black/African American children (105/299; 35.11%), compared with Hispanic/Latino children (55/299 18.39%).
Females accounted for a slightly higher proportion of influenza‑positive cases (157/299 53.0%) compared with males (142/299 ,47.0%). The age distribution of influenza‑positive children was as follows: 0–5 months (6/299; 2.0%), 6–23 months (44/299; 15%), 2–4 years (74/299; 25%), and 5–17 years (175/299, 59%). The most reported symptoms among influenza‑positive children were fever (262/299 87.62%) and cough (201/299 67.22%).
Conclusions:
Influenza detection through the CDC surveillance network plays a critical role in raising awareness of increasing influenza activity in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Data collected through the NVSN support early detection and improve preparedness for future vaccine development for upcoming influenza seasons.
Comments
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Poster Board Number: 19