Communications

(Dec. 19, 2025) – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a Kansas Health Alert Network advisory on Jan. 17, 2025, to inform clinicians and laboratories of sporadic human infections with avian influenza A viruses amid high levels of seasonal influenza activity. At that time, KDHE recommended subtyping all influenza A specimens from hospitalized patients and increasing efforts at clinical laboratories to identify non-seasonal influenza. KDHE is updating this recommendation ahead of peak influenza season. For patients with suspected influenza, clinicians and laboratories are reminded to test for influenza and to continue subtyping influenza A-positive specimens from hospitalized patients. Notably, the request for expedited testing (within 24 hours of hospital admission) is no longer in effect. Subtyping of influenza A virus specimens can help prevent delays in identifying human infections with avian influenza A(H5) viruses, supporting optimal patient care and timely infection control and case investigation. The risk from avian influenza A(H5) to the general public remains low.

Recommendations for Testing of Hospitalized Patients:
KDHE is updating previously published guidance that all influenza A-positive respiratory specimens from hospitalized patients be subtyped for seasonal influenza A viruses [A(H1) and A(H3)] as soon as possible to support optimal patient care, proper infection prevention and control measures, and to facilitate rapid public health investigation and action. For quick reference, the submission algorithm is provided. The previously published request for expedited testing (within 24 hours of admission) has been rescinded.
--Terry Siek