Essay Example on US Flu Surveillance Data Unreliable: Estimates Used Instead of Cases

Apparently, there is a clear indication that the influenza surveillance fails to give all cases related to flu in the United States. But instead, it uses estimated cases to reflect on the impact of influenza. And thus, this information does give the real picture on the ground about the number of influenza illness, medical visits and deaths (Jernigan, 2020). The surveillance influenza data is not reliable because influenza is not considered a reportable disease in the US.

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Arguably, the estimates done in relation to the cumulative health problem brought by influenza have been ineffective in addressing the scourge. First, the laboratory data showing the patients who have been hospitalized due to influenza related during the season are underestimate. Secondly, rates if laboratory confirmed cases related to influenza hospitalization are adjusted for frequency in the occurrence of influenza testing. However, the data related to testing during the 2019 to 2020 season are not available for access in real time.

The Governor of the state of Florida responded to the COVID-19 as a way of keeping the residents and visitors safe from the virus. In this regard, the Governor declared state of emergency as a way of preventing further infection. It has encouraged the residents to avoid getting with people who are sick. In addition, the state has resources that are needed to fight the virus.

The federal government has not shown any significance response to the virus. Based on this, it is justifiable that the government had concentrated much on the aspect of stock market at the expense of providing solutions to the current challenges attributed to the virus. For instance, if the government had taken initiative of ensuring testing is done earlier and necessary solutions taken, the virus would have not spread. Through testing, the health sectors could have played important roles of educating the citizens on ways of preventing infection. According to World Health Organization, those tested positive for the virus would have quarantined as a measure of containing the virus from spreading (2020). Arguably, the viruses tend to spread faster and the best strategy is to focus on the ways of stopping it from spreading further.

Finally, fear has taken a new direction because of the manner in which the virus is spreading. It is very difficult to identify an infected person; hence, avoiding close contact is one of the ways to avoid being infected. Moreover, the citizens should avoid any fear but take precautions measures such as disinfecting frequently touched surfaces to prevent infection. People can no longer gather because of the dangerous virus which has claimed many lives so far.

References

Jernigan, D. B. (2020). Update: Public Health Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak-United States, February 24, 2020. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69.

World Health Organization. (2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): situation report, 45.