US : CDC uses surveillance to track influenza

Via UPI :

" ATLANTA, Jan. 20 : U.S. health officials say they used community-based surveillance -- telephone inquiries -- to track influenza-like illness during the 2009-2010 flu season.

Thursday's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report said most influenza surveillance is done in hospitals or doctor's offices, where cases can be tracked and some are confirmed through testing, but this study monitored influenza-like illness by calling people at home and asking them questions about their symptoms."