It’s now officially influenza season! The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has posted Interim Guidance for Influenza Outbreak Management in Long-Term Care Facilities to help nursing homes prepare for the flu season and identify, report and manage respiratory outbreaks.  

NEW THIS YEAR: Nursing homes that have had a resident hospitalized for influenza or RSV will be contacted by MDH one to two months following the outbreak to get information on the health status of the resident post-hospitalization.

The process for submitting an outbreak report form at the beginning of the outbreak has not changed. Submit a Long-Term Care Facility Influenza and RSV Report Form, 2019-20 when an influenza outbreak is identified in your nursing home. You may also call 651-201-5924 with questions about reporting or influenza outbreak control measures.

MDH 2019-2010 Influenza Season Resources

• Influenza in Long-Term Care website
• Tip sheet for managing influenza outbreaks (Note: Some of the links on this resource are no longer valid, but correct links are provided in this article.)
• 2019-2020 Influenza and RSV Outbreak Report Form
• Restricting visitors during flu season