Influenza is on the radar of the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), or at least it will be once the first cases of the season are identified in the state. In order to track the rate and prevalence of influenza, IDPH created the Iowa Influenza Surveillance Network through which doctors, schools, long-term care facilities and businesses voluntarily report cases of the influenza. This information, which is tracked on a web-based system maintained by IDPH, helps determine the age groups most affected and estimates when the illness is at its peak. New to the program this year are hospitals throughout the state.