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EuroFlu - Weekly Electronic Bulletin - Week 42 : 15/10/2012-21/10/2012 - 26 October 2012, Issue N? 459 (edited)
[Source: EuroFlu, full page: (LINK). Edited.]
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Outpatient surveillance for ILI/ARI
ILI and ARI consultation rates are at usual levels for this time of year. Of the 39 countries reporting on influenza intensity and spread, all reported low levels of intensity; 30 reported no spread and 9 reported sporadic activity. 32 countries reported stable trends; 3 reported a decrease and 3 reported increases in influenza activity.
The proportion of ILI and ARI cases from sentinel surveillance testing positive for influenza in the Region is low; of the 510 specimens tested, 3 (0.6%) tested positive.
See Fig. 2 for historical percentage positivity rates; the number of specimens in weeks 40?42/2012 is not sufficient for presentation, which requires at least 20 specimens per week to test positive for influenza.
The pie chart below presents the distribution of influenza virus types detected in sentinel ILI/ARI cases.
Of 510 specimens, 3 (0.6%) tested positive for influenza. The 3 viruses were influenza B. Click here for a detailed overview of cumulative influenza virus detections by type and subtype since week 40/2012.
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Of 3949 specimens, 37 tested positive for influenza. 29 were influenza A and 8 were influenza B. Of the influenza A viruses, 13 were subtyped: 9 as A(H3) and 4 as A(H1)pdm09.
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Hospital surveillance for SARI
Of 11 countries with SARI surveillance, 8 (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Serbia and Ukraine) reported hospitalizations due to SARI, with most cases occurring in the youngest age group (Fig. 3).
Of the 75 specimens collected from hospitalized SARI cases, none tested positive for influenza. The specimens were collected in 6 countries (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation and Ukraine). Click here for a detailed overview of cumulative influenza virus detections by type and subtype since week 40/2012.
Monitoring of resistance to antiviral drugs
No viruses have been screened for susceptibility to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir this season.
Characterizations of virus strains
Influenza viruses are assessed each season for their antigenic and genetic characteristics, to determine the extent of their antigenic similarity to the viruses included in the seasonal influenza vaccine, and determine the prevalence of mutations that affect pathogenicity or are associated with susceptibility to antiviral drugs.
In the 2012/2013 northern hemisphere influenza season, WHO recommends the inclusion in the vaccine of A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like, A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like and B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like (from the B/Yamagata lineage) viruses.
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Country comments (where available)
Norway: The majority of the influenza A cases in week 42 were patients in a single hospital ward
Republic of Moldova: Were tested 5 sentinel specimens this week and only one was positive for DNA Adenovirus.
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EuroFlu - Weekly Electronic Bulletin - Week 42 : 15/10/2012-21/10/2012 - 26 October 2012, Issue N? 459
Low levels of influenza activity in Europe
Summary, week 42/2012
Influenza activity is at low levels in all countries in the WHO European Region, with only few reporting sporadic influenza detections.
All of the 14 countries that have established epidemic thresholds reported consultation rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) and/or acute respiratory infection (ARI) that were below their thresholds.
The number of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases detected through hospital surveillance was similar to that in the previous week, and none of the specimens tested was positive for influenza.
For a description of influenza surveillance in the WHO European Region. See below.
Virological surveillance for influenza
Overall, a total of 40 specimens tested positive for influenza in week 42/2012: 29 were influenza A and 11 were influenza B.
Of the 29 influenza A, 16 were not subtyped, 9 were A(H3) and 4 A(H1)pdm09 (Fig. 1).
Low levels of influenza activity in Europe
Summary, week 42/2012
Influenza activity is at low levels in all countries in the WHO European Region, with only few reporting sporadic influenza detections.
All of the 14 countries that have established epidemic thresholds reported consultation rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) and/or acute respiratory infection (ARI) that were below their thresholds.
The number of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases detected through hospital surveillance was similar to that in the previous week, and none of the specimens tested was positive for influenza.
For a description of influenza surveillance in the WHO European Region. See below.
Virological surveillance for influenza
Overall, a total of 40 specimens tested positive for influenza in week 42/2012: 29 were influenza A and 11 were influenza B.
Of the 29 influenza A, 16 were not subtyped, 9 were A(H3) and 4 A(H1)pdm09 (Fig. 1).
(?)
Outpatient surveillance for ILI/ARI
ILI and ARI consultation rates are at usual levels for this time of year. Of the 39 countries reporting on influenza intensity and spread, all reported low levels of intensity; 30 reported no spread and 9 reported sporadic activity. 32 countries reported stable trends; 3 reported a decrease and 3 reported increases in influenza activity.
The proportion of ILI and ARI cases from sentinel surveillance testing positive for influenza in the Region is low; of the 510 specimens tested, 3 (0.6%) tested positive.
See Fig. 2 for historical percentage positivity rates; the number of specimens in weeks 40?42/2012 is not sufficient for presentation, which requires at least 20 specimens per week to test positive for influenza.
The pie chart below presents the distribution of influenza virus types detected in sentinel ILI/ARI cases.
Of 510 specimens, 3 (0.6%) tested positive for influenza. The 3 viruses were influenza B. Click here for a detailed overview of cumulative influenza virus detections by type and subtype since week 40/2012.
(?)
Of 3949 specimens, 37 tested positive for influenza. 29 were influenza A and 8 were influenza B. Of the influenza A viruses, 13 were subtyped: 9 as A(H3) and 4 as A(H1)pdm09.
(?)
Hospital surveillance for SARI
Of 11 countries with SARI surveillance, 8 (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Serbia and Ukraine) reported hospitalizations due to SARI, with most cases occurring in the youngest age group (Fig. 3).
Of the 75 specimens collected from hospitalized SARI cases, none tested positive for influenza. The specimens were collected in 6 countries (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation and Ukraine). Click here for a detailed overview of cumulative influenza virus detections by type and subtype since week 40/2012.
Monitoring of resistance to antiviral drugs
No viruses have been screened for susceptibility to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir this season.
Characterizations of virus strains
Influenza viruses are assessed each season for their antigenic and genetic characteristics, to determine the extent of their antigenic similarity to the viruses included in the seasonal influenza vaccine, and determine the prevalence of mutations that affect pathogenicity or are associated with susceptibility to antiviral drugs.
In the 2012/2013 northern hemisphere influenza season, WHO recommends the inclusion in the vaccine of A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like, A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like and B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like (from the B/Yamagata lineage) viruses.
(?)
Country comments (where available)
Norway: The majority of the influenza A cases in week 42 were patients in a single hospital ward
Republic of Moldova: Were tested 5 sentinel specimens this week and only one was positive for DNA Adenovirus.
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