Iowa Influenza Surveillance Network Final Report 2006-2008

The Iowa Influenza Surveillance Network (IISN) tracks the overall activity, age groups impacted, outbreaks, type and strain, and severity of seasonal influenza. In the 2006-2007 season the network had more than 90 reporting sites that included physicians, clinics, hospitals, schools and long term care facilities (Appendix A). Other non-network reporters who contributed influenza data included medical clinics, hospitals, laboratories, local public health departments and neighboring state health departments. 010203040506070424548495051521234567891011121314MMWR weekNumber of cases2006-20072005-2006 The 2006-2007 influenza season in Iowa began earlier than any previously recorded data indicates, however, the season’s peak occurred much later in the season. In addition to early cases, this season was also unusual in that all three anticipated strains (AH1N1, AH3N2, and B) were reported by the first of December (Appendix B). The first laboratory-confirmed case in the 2005-2006 season was identified December 5, 2005; the first case for the 2006-2007 season was on November 2, 2006. The predominant strain for 2005-2006 was influenza AH3, but for 2006-2007 both influenza AH1 and B dominated influenza infections. However improvements in influenza specimen submission to the University Hygienic Laboratory may have also played a role in early detection and overall case detection. In summary, all influenza activity indicators show a peak between the MMWR weeks 5 and 9 (i.e. February 14- March 4). Children from five years to eight years of age were impacted more than other age groups. There were few influenza hospitalizations and fatalities in all age groups.

Traumatic Brain Injury in Iowa: Iowa Brain Injury Resource Network Outcome Evaluation 2007-2009, August 2011

Termed the “silent epidemic,” traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most debilitating outcome of injury, and is characterized by the irreversibility of its damages, long-term effects on quality of life and healthcare costs. The latest data available from the CDC estimate that nationally, 52,000 people die each year from TBI2. In Iowa, TBI is a major public health problem. The numbers and rates of hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits due to TBIs are steadily increasing. From 2006 to 2008, there were on average 545 injury deaths per year. Among the injured Iowans, TBI constituted nearly 30 percent (545) of all injury deaths, ten percent (1,591) of people hospitalized and seven percent (17,696) of ED visitors. 3 The state of Iowa has been supporting secondary prevention services to TBI survivors for several years. An Iowa organization that has made a significant effort in assisting TBI survivors is the Brain Injury Association of Iowa (BIAIA). The BIAIA administers the IBIRN program in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) through HRSA TBI Implementation grant funding and state appropriations.

Iowa State Plan for Brain Injury 2013-2018

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) impacts the lives of thousands of Iowans each year. The effects of brain injury (often called the "silent epidemic" because resulting injury is often not visible to others) are cognitive, emotional, and social but may also result in physical disability. This state plan, created by the Governor's Advisory Council on Brain Injuries, is intended to provide guidance for brain injury services and prevention activities in Iowa. This is the fourth Iowa State Plan for Brain Injury. In addition to a statewide needs assessment, development of this plan included recommendations made by the Mental Health and Disability Services Redesign Brain Injury Work-group. For the first time in the history of TBI surveillance in Iowa, the numbers and rates of TBI deaths are decreasing, however hospitalizations and emergency department visits resulting from TBI are steadily increasing. This trend is likely due to the decrease in motor vehicle accidents and improved hospitalization protocols. Looking to the future, the Advisory Council on Brain Injuries identified goals in each of four focus areas. These focus areas are: #1 Individual and family access; dedicated to the enhancement of the lives of individuals with brain injuries and their families. #2 Service and support availability; #3 Service system enhancements; continued funding growth and public awareness campaigns that draw attention to the impact of brain injury. #4 Brain injury prevention; working to prevent and reduce three of the most common causes of brain injury are falls, no helmet use, and motor vehicle crashes.

Indicators for Traumatic Brain Injury, December 2008

Although it is not a cause or intent of injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is included as a specific indicator due to its deadly and debilitating nature. Although the death and hospitalization rates of TBI injuries in Iowa (17.3/100,000 and 56.8/100,000, respectively) is lower than the national NCIPC states’ 2004 average (17.9/100,000 and 74.2/100,000, respectively), the TBI death rate is still the highest among all the specific indicators for death in Iowa. On average, there are 1.5 TBI‐related deaths/day, 5 hospitalizations, and nearly 40 TBI‐related ED visits per day in all of Iowa.

The Burden of Injury in Iowa, December 2008

Injuries are a major public health concern that affects the lives of all Iowans, regardless of age, race, gender, or size of county. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for Iowans between the ages of 1 and 34, while suicides and/or homicides also rank among the top 5 leading causes of death for Iowans between the ages of 1 and 54. Unintentional injury is the 5th leading cause of death for all Iowans, with over 1,500 injury deaths occurring on average each year (from 2002‐ 2006) in Iowa. Injuries also lead to more than 17,000 hospitalizations in Iowa each year and more than 250,000 emergency department (ED) visits. Further, untold numbers of Iowans do not seek medical care for many of the injuries they may incur. Because injuries are preventable, they lead to unnecessary medical costs, economic losses, reduced productivity, and immense physical and emotional strain.