Influenza-Associated Deaths: Pregnancy-Associated
Reportable by ProvidersAbout this Reportable Disease
Infectious agent: Influenza virus
Description of illness: “Classic” influenza disease is characterized by the abrupt onset of fever, myalgia, sore throat, nonproductive cough, and headache. The fever is usually 101°–102°F. Additional symptoms may include runny nose, headache, substernal chest burning, and eye pain and sensitivity to light; a minority of cases may have gastrointestinal symptoms.
Influenza is primarily transmitted from person to person via large respiratory droplets from infected person’s cough or sneeze which then settle on the mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tracts of susceptible persons who are near (<= 3 feet) infected persons. Transmission may also occur through contact with surfaces contaminated with influenza virus and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth.
Interactive Disease Data
Laboratory Reporting for this Disease
Arboviral Panel (IgG and IgM Antibody Assay)
TEST NAME |
Arboviral Panel |
| DISEASE(S)/DISORDER(S) |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAME(S) | None |
| METHODOLOGY |
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| SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS | Send acute sample at time of collection; do not wait for convalescent sample to be drawn. |
| ORDERING INFORMATION | Lab Web Portal PTBMIS: Test Order Code: ARBOVRS Test Order Description: Arbovirus Panel |
Specimen Requirements
| Patient Preparation | Paired Serum Samples: - Acute: drawn at illness onset and - Convalescent: drawn 7 to 14 days later Note: Send acute sample at time of collection; do not wait for convalescent sample to be drawn. |
| Specimen Collection |
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| Specimen Labeling |
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| Specimen Processing |
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| Specimen Storage and Preservation |
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| Specimen Transportation |
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| Specimen Acceptability and Rejection |
- Specimens not properly identified with the patient's name and date of birth and matching the submission form. - Convalescent serum that is collected sooner than seven (7) days from the collection date of the acute sample. |
| Testing Location |
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Laboratory Reporting
Reporting requirements apply to all laboratories located within Tennessee as well as laboratories outside of Tennessee that test residents of Tennessee, including laboratories located within healthcare facilities. Healthcare providers and laboratories in the same healthcare facility both have a duty to report. The type of organisms and analytes laboratories must report to TDH for 2026 are indicated and there are several ways laboratories can report results to TDH.
- Manually report results to TDH by faxing or mailing a completed PH-1600 form to your local health department, or faxing to the state health office at (615) 741-3857
- Automatically submit results to TDH via electronic laboratory reporting (ELR), which automates the process of sharing data with TDH using interoperability standards.
- See the ELR Onboarding Handbook for details on the onboarding process, checklist, frequently asked questions, business rules, message format, and vocabulary.
- To initiate the ELR onboarding process with TDH, register in the Trading Partner Registration (TPR) system TPR provides documentation for Promoting Interoperability (PI) attestation and milestone letters to document onboarding progress. Contact MU.Health@tn.gov for assistance.
- Submit online via NBS. NBS is TDH's reportable disease system. To request an NBS account for reporting Complete this user survey to request an NBS account for reporting.
- Blood lead levels can be sent via fax ( (615) 741-3857), entered online, or reported using the instructions at this link.
Information about this Reportable Disease for Healthcare Providers
Clinical Summary
- Pregnancy (and early postpartum) is a priority risk group for influenza complications; CDC recommends empiric antiviral treatment as early as possible for pregnant/postpartum patients with suspected or confirmed influenza and notes that decisions about treatment should not wait for laboratory confirmation.
- Oral oseltamivir is the preferred antiviral for treatment during pregnancy in CDC guidance, and treatment is recommended in any trimester; post-exposure prophylaxis considerations for pregnancy are also addressed in CDC obstetric guidance.
- Tennessee lists Influenza-Associated Deaths: Pregnancy-Associated as a reportable condition and describes typical influenza illness features (abrupt onset fever, myalgia, sore throat, nonproductive cough, headache).
- Facility/public health workflows typically include confirming influenza testing status and relevant pregnancy/postpartum status, documenting timing of symptom onset and antivirals, and ensuring prompt notification through required reporting channels to support surveillance and prevention efforts.
Healthcare Provider Reporting
Healthcare reporting requirements apply to all providers located within Tennessee, as well as providers whose patients reside in Tennessee.
Providers must report cases of all diseases and conditions listed through one of these methods:
• Mail or fax a completed PH-1600 form to your local health department or fax to the state health office at (615) 741-3857
• Send automatically via electronic case reporting (eCR). See this TDH webpage for more information on eCR, register at the Trader Partner Registration website, or contact MU.Health@tn.gov for assistance.
• Submit online via NBS. NBS is TDH's reportable disease system. To request an NBS account for reporting Complete this user survey to request an NBS account for reporting.
• Blood lead levels can be sent via fax ( (615) 741-3857), entered online, or reported using the instructions at this link.
Information about this Reportable Disease for the Public
What It Is
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. During pregnancy and shortly after delivery, flu illness is more likely to become severe, and influenza-related complications can be life-threatening.
Who Is at Higher Risk
Pregnant women (and those in the early postpartum period) are considered at higher risk for serious flu complications. This higher risk is why prevention and early treatment are emphasized for pregnancy and postpartum care.
Signs and Symptoms
“Classic” influenza often begins abruptly and may include fever, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, and headache. Symptoms can worsen quickly, especially in people at higher risk for complications.
How It Spreads
Flu spreads mainly through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and can also spread by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.
Prevention and Treatment During Pregnancy
Annual influenza vaccination is an important prevention tool, and antiviral medication can reduce severity when started early. For pregnant women with suspected or confirmed flu, CDC recommends prompt antiviral treatment—without waiting for test results—because pregnancy is a higher-risk condition for complications.
This Page Last Updated: March 25, 2026 at 8:53 PM