Accessing and Interpreting Influenza Forecasts During the 2017-18 Influenza Season – 11/16/2017
Speakers:
- Matthew Biggerstaff, ScD, MPH, Epidemiologist, Influenza Division, NCIRD, CDC
- Michael Johansson, PhD, Biologist, Dengue Branch, NCEZID, CDC
- Craig McGowan, MS, ORISE Fellow, Influenza Division, NCIRD, CDC
Objectives:
This webinar is the second in a two-part webinar series entitled Infectious Disease Forecasting for Public Health Professionals. The webinar series will provide an introduction to forecasting methodologies, an overview of national initiatives to improve infectious disease forecasting for influenza and other infectious diseases, and important information for public health professionals to leverage forecasts to inform public health action.
In the 2017-18 influenza season, CDC is expanding its influenza forecasting challenges to include forecasts of state level influenza activity, as well as forecasts of influenza hospitalizations. Forecasts will be displayed online and communicated to CDC influenza leadership weekly during the influenza season. We will review how to interpret information from these forecasts, so public health decision makers at all levels can benefit.
By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:
- Read and interpret forecasts on the EPI website
- Describe pilot efforts to forecast influenza at the state level and influenza hospitalizations
- Describe advantages of the influenza ensemble forecast