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Weekly influenza surveillance overview - 5 November 2010 (ECDC, 11/05/10, extract, edited)
Weekly influenza surveillance overview - 5 November 2010 (ECDC, 11/05/10, extract, edited)
[Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), full PDF document (LINK). Extract, edited.]
SURVEILLANCE REPORT
Weekly influenza surveillance overview - 5 November 2010
Main surveillance developments in week 43/2010 (25 Oct 2010 ? 31 Oct 2010)
This first page contains the main developments of this week and can be printed separately or together with the more detailed information following.
The large majority of countries continue to report low rates and unchanging trends in sentinel physician consultations for influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection.
During week 43/2010, nine (2.6%) of 344 sentinel specimens tested positive for influenza virus.
Sixteen of 18 influenza viruses detected in sentinel and non-sentinel specimens were type A, and the other two were type B.
Of the 10 subtyped, eight were A(H1)2009 and two were A(H3).
Rare detections of influenza virus along with sporadic detections of respiratory syncytial virus in a number of European countries suggest that the low influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection activity currently observed is likely due to respiratory pathogens other than influenza.
One SARI case considered not to be related to flu was reported during week 43/2010.
Sentinel surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI)/ acute respiratory infection (ARI):
All of the 22 countries reporting for week 43 continued to report low activity and most of them observed unchanging trends.
Virological surveillance:
Sentinel physicians collected 344 specimens, nine (2.6%) of which were positive for influenza virus.
Of the 18 influenza viruses detected from sentinel and non-sentinel sources during week 43/2010, 16 were type A and two were type B.
To date this season, both influenza A(H3), A (H1) 2009 and influenza B viruses (Yamagata- and the Victoria-lineage) have been detected by laboratories, though all in small numbers.
Hospital surveillance of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI):
One SARI case was reported during week 43/2010; no influenza virus was detected from this patient.
Sentinel surveillance (ILI/ARI) - Weekly analysis ? epidemiology
During week 43/2010, 22 of 29 countries reported epidemiological data. All countries continued to experience low intensity (Map 1, Table 1).
For the geographic spread indicator, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Germany, and the UK reported sporadic cases, while all other countries reported no activity (Map 2, Table 1).
Bulgaria and UK (Scotland) reported an increase in consultation rates for ILI/ARI compared to the previous week. The remaining countries reported stable or decreasing trends (Map 1 and Table 1). Consultation rates continue to be at national baseline levels for all reporting countries.
(...)
Description of the system
This surveillance is based on nationally organized sentinel networks of physicians, mostly general practitioners (GPs), covering at least 1?5% of the population in their countries. All EU/EEA Member States (except Liechtenstein) are participating.
Depending on their country?s choice, each sentinel physician reports the weekly number of patients seen with influenza-like illness (ILI), acute respiratory infection (ARI) or both to a national focal point.
From the national level, both numerator and denominator data are then reported to the European Surveillance System (TESSy) database. Additional semi-quantitative indicators of intensity, geographic spread and trend of influenza activity at the national level are also reported.
Virological surveillance - Weekly analysis ? virology
In week 43/2010, 20 countries reported virological data. Sentinel physicians collected 344 specimens, nine (2.6%) of which were positive for influenza virus (Tables 1 and 2).
In addition, nine non-sentinel source specimens (e.g., specimens collected for diagnostic purpose in hospitals) were reported positive for influenza virus.
Of the 18 influenza viruses detected from sentinel and non-sentinel sources during week 43/2010, 16 (88.9%) were type A and two (11.1%) were type B.
These detections were reported by Germany, Spain, and the UK (England, Northern Ireland and Scotland).
Ten of the 16 influenza A viruses detected in week 43/2010 were subtyped: eight as pandemic influenza A(H1)2009 virus and two as A(H3). Table 2 shows the distribution of both sentinel and non-sentinel specimens by type and subtype. Figures 1?3 show the trends of virological detections since week 40/2010.
Since week 40/2010, six viruses from sentinel and non-sentinel samples were characterised antigenically (Table 3); three of these were A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus. Among the characterized influenza B viruses, both, the Yamagata- and the Victoria-lineage were represented.
More details on circulating viruses can be found in the report prepared by the Community Network of Reference Laboratories coordination team.
In week 43/2010, 11 countries reported 89 detections of respiratory syncytial virus, a number within the range of the previous season (Figure 4).
(...)
Table 3: Results of antigenic characterisations of sentinel and non-sentinel influenza virus isolates, weeks 40/2010?43/2010
[Strain name - Number of strains]
(...)
For details on the current virus strains recommended by WHO for vaccine preparation click here.
Description of the system
According to the nationally defined sampling strategy, sentinel physicians take nasal or pharyngeal swabs from patients with influenza-like illness (ILI), acute respiratory infection (ARI) or both and send the specimens to influenza-specific reference laboratories for virus detection, (sub-)typing, antigenic or genetic characterisation and antiviral susceptibility testing.
Hospital surveillance ? severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) - Weekly analysis ? SARI
During week 43/2010, one SARI case was reported in Romania. Since week 40/2010 four SARI cases have been reported. Influenza virus was not detected in any of these cases and none of the individuals had been vaccinated against influenza (Tables 4, 5 and 6).
Table 4: Number of SARI cases by age and gender, week 43/2010
[Age groups - Male - Female]
Table 5: Number of SARI cases by influenza type and subtype, week 43/2010
[Virus type/subtype Number of cases during current week - Cumulative number of cases since the start of the season]
Note: A(pandemic H1), A(H3) and A(H1) includes both N-subtyped and not N-subtyped viruses
Table 6: Number of SARI cases by vaccination status, week 43/2010
[Vaccination Status - Number Of Cases - Percentage of cases]
Description of the system
A number of Member States carry out hospital-based surveillance of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) exhaustively or at selected sentinel sites. SARI surveillance serves to monitor the trends in the severity of influenza and potential risk factors for severe disease to help guide preventive measures and health care resource allocation.
The report text was written by an editorial team at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): Eeva Broberg, Flaviu Plata, Phillip Zucs and Ren? Snacken. The bulletin text was reviewed by the Community Network of Reference Laboratories for Human Influenza in Europe (CNRL) coordination team: Adam Meijer, Rod Daniels, John McCauley and Maria Zambon. On behalf of the EISN members the bulletin text was reviewed by Bianca Snijders (RIVM Bilthoven, The Netherlands) and Thedi Ziegler (National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland)
Maps and commentary used in this Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview (WISO) do not imply any opinions whatsoever of ECDC or its partners on the legal status of the countries and territories shown or concerning their borders.
All data published in the WISO are up-to-date on the day of publication. Past this date, however, published data should not be used for longitudinal comparisons as countries tend to retrospectively update their numbers in the database.
? European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, 2010
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[Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), full PDF document (LINK). Extract, edited.]
SURVEILLANCE REPORT
Weekly influenza surveillance overview - 5 November 2010
Main surveillance developments in week 43/2010 (25 Oct 2010 ? 31 Oct 2010)
This first page contains the main developments of this week and can be printed separately or together with the more detailed information following.
The large majority of countries continue to report low rates and unchanging trends in sentinel physician consultations for influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection.
During week 43/2010, nine (2.6%) of 344 sentinel specimens tested positive for influenza virus.
Sixteen of 18 influenza viruses detected in sentinel and non-sentinel specimens were type A, and the other two were type B.
Of the 10 subtyped, eight were A(H1)2009 and two were A(H3).
Rare detections of influenza virus along with sporadic detections of respiratory syncytial virus in a number of European countries suggest that the low influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection activity currently observed is likely due to respiratory pathogens other than influenza.
One SARI case considered not to be related to flu was reported during week 43/2010.
Sentinel surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI)/ acute respiratory infection (ARI):
All of the 22 countries reporting for week 43 continued to report low activity and most of them observed unchanging trends.
Virological surveillance:
Sentinel physicians collected 344 specimens, nine (2.6%) of which were positive for influenza virus.
Of the 18 influenza viruses detected from sentinel and non-sentinel sources during week 43/2010, 16 were type A and two were type B.
To date this season, both influenza A(H3), A (H1) 2009 and influenza B viruses (Yamagata- and the Victoria-lineage) have been detected by laboratories, though all in small numbers.
Hospital surveillance of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI):
One SARI case was reported during week 43/2010; no influenza virus was detected from this patient.
Sentinel surveillance (ILI/ARI) - Weekly analysis ? epidemiology
During week 43/2010, 22 of 29 countries reported epidemiological data. All countries continued to experience low intensity (Map 1, Table 1).
For the geographic spread indicator, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Germany, and the UK reported sporadic cases, while all other countries reported no activity (Map 2, Table 1).
Bulgaria and UK (Scotland) reported an increase in consultation rates for ILI/ARI compared to the previous week. The remaining countries reported stable or decreasing trends (Map 1 and Table 1). Consultation rates continue to be at national baseline levels for all reporting countries.
(...)
Description of the system
This surveillance is based on nationally organized sentinel networks of physicians, mostly general practitioners (GPs), covering at least 1?5% of the population in their countries. All EU/EEA Member States (except Liechtenstein) are participating.
Depending on their country?s choice, each sentinel physician reports the weekly number of patients seen with influenza-like illness (ILI), acute respiratory infection (ARI) or both to a national focal point.
From the national level, both numerator and denominator data are then reported to the European Surveillance System (TESSy) database. Additional semi-quantitative indicators of intensity, geographic spread and trend of influenza activity at the national level are also reported.
Virological surveillance - Weekly analysis ? virology
In week 43/2010, 20 countries reported virological data. Sentinel physicians collected 344 specimens, nine (2.6%) of which were positive for influenza virus (Tables 1 and 2).
In addition, nine non-sentinel source specimens (e.g., specimens collected for diagnostic purpose in hospitals) were reported positive for influenza virus.
Of the 18 influenza viruses detected from sentinel and non-sentinel sources during week 43/2010, 16 (88.9%) were type A and two (11.1%) were type B.
These detections were reported by Germany, Spain, and the UK (England, Northern Ireland and Scotland).
Ten of the 16 influenza A viruses detected in week 43/2010 were subtyped: eight as pandemic influenza A(H1)2009 virus and two as A(H3). Table 2 shows the distribution of both sentinel and non-sentinel specimens by type and subtype. Figures 1?3 show the trends of virological detections since week 40/2010.
Since week 40/2010, six viruses from sentinel and non-sentinel samples were characterised antigenically (Table 3); three of these were A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus. Among the characterized influenza B viruses, both, the Yamagata- and the Victoria-lineage were represented.
More details on circulating viruses can be found in the report prepared by the Community Network of Reference Laboratories coordination team.
In week 43/2010, 11 countries reported 89 detections of respiratory syncytial virus, a number within the range of the previous season (Figure 4).
(...)
Table 3: Results of antigenic characterisations of sentinel and non-sentinel influenza virus isolates, weeks 40/2010?43/2010
[Strain name - Number of strains]
- A(H1)v California/7/2009-like - 3
- A(H3) A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like - 0
- A(H3) A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like - 0
- B/Brisbane/60/2008-like (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage) - 3
- B/Florida/4/2006-like (B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage) - 1
(...)
For details on the current virus strains recommended by WHO for vaccine preparation click here.
Description of the system
According to the nationally defined sampling strategy, sentinel physicians take nasal or pharyngeal swabs from patients with influenza-like illness (ILI), acute respiratory infection (ARI) or both and send the specimens to influenza-specific reference laboratories for virus detection, (sub-)typing, antigenic or genetic characterisation and antiviral susceptibility testing.
Hospital surveillance ? severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) - Weekly analysis ? SARI
During week 43/2010, one SARI case was reported in Romania. Since week 40/2010 four SARI cases have been reported. Influenza virus was not detected in any of these cases and none of the individuals had been vaccinated against influenza (Tables 4, 5 and 6).
Table 4: Number of SARI cases by age and gender, week 43/2010
[Age groups - Male - Female]
- 18-44 - 1
- Total - 1
Table 5: Number of SARI cases by influenza type and subtype, week 43/2010
[Virus type/subtype Number of cases during current week - Cumulative number of cases since the start of the season]
- Influenza A /
- A (pandemic H1N1) /
- A(H3) /
- A(H1) /
- Influenza B /
- Unknown 1 - 4
- Total 1 - 4
Note: A(pandemic H1), A(H3) and A(H1) includes both N-subtyped and not N-subtyped viruses
Table 6: Number of SARI cases by vaccination status, week 43/2010
[Vaccination Status - Number Of Cases - Percentage of cases]
- Not full pandemic vaccination - 0 - 0
- Not vaccinated - 1 - 100
- TOTAL - 1
Description of the system
A number of Member States carry out hospital-based surveillance of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) exhaustively or at selected sentinel sites. SARI surveillance serves to monitor the trends in the severity of influenza and potential risk factors for severe disease to help guide preventive measures and health care resource allocation.
The report text was written by an editorial team at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): Eeva Broberg, Flaviu Plata, Phillip Zucs and Ren? Snacken. The bulletin text was reviewed by the Community Network of Reference Laboratories for Human Influenza in Europe (CNRL) coordination team: Adam Meijer, Rod Daniels, John McCauley and Maria Zambon. On behalf of the EISN members the bulletin text was reviewed by Bianca Snijders (RIVM Bilthoven, The Netherlands) and Thedi Ziegler (National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland)
Maps and commentary used in this Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview (WISO) do not imply any opinions whatsoever of ECDC or its partners on the legal status of the countries and territories shown or concerning their borders.
All data published in the WISO are up-to-date on the day of publication. Past this date, however, published data should not be used for longitudinal comparisons as countries tend to retrospectively update their numbers in the database.
? European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, 2010
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