State Influenza Surveillance Coordinator Torrey McLean reported on Thursday that “it appears that Pandemic A (H1N1) influenza is rising sharply both in North Carolina and throughout the entire southeast.” Virtually all confirmed influenza activity within the latest reporting cycle continues to be the Pandemic A (H1N1) virus. The latest report comes as the state prepares for the start of the new flu reporting season on September 28, 2009. Influenza activity began to increase sharply the first week of September, according to the state’s sentinel sites and participating hospital emergency departments. That coincided with the start of the new school year across the state. You can read the latest NC Weekly Influenza Surveillance Summary (#43) at www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/gcdc/flu.html.