ImageTrend Short Report: Classifying Influenza-Like Illness in the Prehospital Setting

A healthcare worker wearing scrubs, gloves, and a mask stands outside a medical facility holding a clipboard, with an ambulance visible in the background.

By Macall Leslie Salewon, MPH, Epidemiologist

Background

Seasonal respiratory viruses put steady pressure on EMS every fall and winter. This month’s report analyzes nationwide 9-1-1 encounters that met the Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) case definition in the ImageTrend Collaborate dataset, showing how ILI presents in the field and where preparedness can reduce strain.

Inside the Report

See what the data show across millions of responses: how many ILI encounters occurred in 2024 (4% of all 9-1-1 patient contacts); why abnormal vitals are common; review treatment patterns (bronchodilators, steroids, or oxygen); and outcome trends, including transports and AMA cases.

Practical Guidance

Use these patterns to anticipate seasonal surges, align with receiving facilities on capacity, reinforce vaccination and prevention messaging (especially for high-risk groups), and equip clinicians for risk communication when refusals occur—particularly with pediatric caregivers.

Download the full report to get the charts, measures, and operational takeaways your teams can put to work now.

See the Full Report

A summary report on influenza-like illness in the prehospital setting, highlighting background information and a data point of 304,506 patient encounters in 2024.

Download this PDF

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