The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a new respiratory virus forecasting website that gives a more detailed local view of how influenza could spread in communities across the country.
The agency said the interactive site launched in early October and offers geographic detail that CDC respiratory surveillance tools did not provide before.
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According to the CDC, the tool uses epidemic trend estimates to identify outbreak peaks 2-3 weeks earlier at the state level and up to 1.5 weeks earlier at the community level than earlier approaches.
The CDC said the site can help health officials plan for healthcare demand and direct resources. It also gives the public a look at expected respiratory virus activity in their communities.
CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz is available for an on-camera recorded interview in the early afternoon Oct. 22 or Oct. 23 to discuss the forecasting tool, how it can help communities and healthcare systems prepare, and the agency’s work to update infectious disease monitoring and provide earlier information.