How does the government track pandemic influenza?

The government tracks pandemic influenza through a variety of methods, including:

* Disease surveillance: This involves collecting data on the number of people who are sick with influenza-like illness (ILI) and the number of people who are hospitalized or die from influenza. This data is collected from hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers.

* Laboratory testing: This involves testing samples from people who are sick with ILI to see if they have influenza. This testing is done by public health laboratories and commercial laboratories.

* Genetic sequencing: This involves analyzing the genetic code of influenza viruses to see how they are changing. This information helps scientists track the evolution of the virus and identify new strains.

* Epidemiological investigations: This involves studying the spread of influenza to identify factors that are contributing to its transmission. This information helps public health officials develop strategies to prevent and control influenza.

The government uses this information to track the spread of influenza and to develop and implement public health interventions to prevent and control the disease.