Emergency Department Surveillance as a Proxy For The Prediction of Circulating Respiratory Viral Disease in Eastern Ontario

BACKGROUND: Seasonal outbreaks of winter respiratory viruses are responsible for increases in morbidity and mortality in the community. Previous studies have used hospitalizations, intensive care unit and emergency department (ED) visits as indicators of seasonal influenza incidence. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether ED visits can be used as a proxy to detect respiratory viral disease outbreaks, as measured by laboratory confirmation.