Surveillance
Monitoring of respiratory illness at schools is one of the most important indications of flu in the community and MCDPH has been doing it since 2001.
A web-based system, the SSMP, Opens a New Window. was created in response to the H1N1 pandemic to facilitate reporting of respiratory and gastrointestinal absences at schools. Participation is voluntary and the number of participating schools varies each year. It is very simple and easy to use. Most schools have the main office or school nurses report on this information.