Announcement

**Ronan Kelly** · May 11, 2013, 07:20 PM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

New South Wales

NSW is still running monthly reports. Latest available April 2013.

Summary
In April 2013: The rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations to selected emergency departments was low but above the normal range expected for April. Laboratory data indicated overall influenza activity was low, but there was some evidence of co-circulation of influenza A(H1N1)2009, influenza A(H3N2), and influenza B. The number of influenza cases is usual for this time of year. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most common respiratory virus identified by sentinel laboratories.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

Queensland

Week ending April 28th.

There were 22 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 6 were attributed to influenza B virus, 14 were typed as Influenza A, none as H3N2 and 2 were identified as the pandemic Influenza A H1N1 2009 strain. There have been 978 influenza cases year-to-date.*

There have been 87 hospital admissions including 9 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

South Australia

No report available

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

No Reports for 2013 to date.

For more information: DHHS Communicable Diseases - FluTas

Victoria

No Reports for 2013 to date.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

Western Australia

For week ending May 5th.

Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains low at about 3 ILI/1000 consultations.
? The number and rate of ILI presentations and admissions to sentinel EDs have been stable recently,
decreasing slightly this week.
? Only one specimen collected in a sentinel practice tested positive for influenza virus (subtyped
as AH3N2) at PathWest this week.
? Detections of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) increased this week. Detections of rhinovirus
decreased slightly and detections of other non-influenza viruses remain relatively stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- May 11 2012 there were 2,973 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,053, NSW had 519, SA 420, Victoria 395, WA had 358, NT 150, ACT 64 and Tas 14.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending April 7th.

Nationally, ILI notifications remained steady over the period with 76 and 85 notifications
in week 13 and 14 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period decreased slightly with
7 and 8 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 13 and 14 respectively, compared to 6
cases per 1000 in weeks 11 and 12. For the same reporting period in 2012, ILI rates
were higher at 8 and 9 cases per 1000 consultations (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state
basis, it is important to note the sustained high ILI rate in urban NSW

For more information: ASPREN

Flu Tracking
FluTracking is a pilot online health surveillance system which aims to detect epidemics of influenza. It is a joint initiative of The University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Area Health Service (NSW Health) and Hunter Medical Research Institute. Participation is voluntary and involves the completion of a weekly online survey during the influenza season. Data are collected on basic demographics, symptoms of ILI and absenteeism.

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #2 - ending 5 May 2013
Low level influenza-like illness activity. Graphs will be more informative as more weeks of data are included.

This survey was sent on Monday 6 May 7:17 AM and by Thursday 9 May 9:00 AM we had received 13837 responses (13239 last week) from 8804 people responding for themselves and 5033 household members across Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
1.7% of vaccinated participants and 1.9% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 0.9% of vaccinated
participants and 1.1% of unvaccinated participants.
For participants this week, 7293/13837 (52.7%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2756
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 1976 (71.7%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · May 18, 2013, 06:15 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

New South Wales

NSW is still running monthly reports. Latest available April 2013.

Summary
In April 2013: The rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations to selected emergency departments was low but above the normal range expected for April. Laboratory data indicated overall influenza activity was low, but there was some evidence of co-circulation of influenza A(H1N1)2009, influenza A(H3N2), and influenza B. The number of influenza cases is usual for this time of year. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most common respiratory virus identified by sentinel laboratories.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

Queensland

Week ending May 6th.

There were 35 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 11 were attributed to influenza B virus, 23 were typed as Influenza A, none as H3N2 and 1 was identified as the pandemic Influenza A H1N1 2009 strain. There have been 1,028 influenza cases year-to-date.*

There have been 87 hospital admissions including 9 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

South Australia

No report available

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

No Reports for 2013 to date.

For more information: DHHS Communicable Diseases - FluTas

Victoria

For week ending May 12th.

? Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has remained below baseline levels, with a presentation rate of 2.1 cases per 1000 patients seen.
? From the 19 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 12/5/13) all were negative for influenza.
? The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus, with no influenza detected. Of the 16 influenza viruses detected so far this year 1 was A(H1N1)pdm09, 10 were H3 and 5 are untyped.
? This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported no hospitalisations. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 4 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09 and three were untyped influenza A patients, from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals.
? Of the 20 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, one was A(H1N1)pdm09, 18 H3 and one influenza B.
? The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 3,033, of which 409 (14%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

Western Australia

For week ending May 12th.

Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains low at about 2 ILI/1000 consultations.
? The number and rate of ILI presentations and admissions to sentinel EDs remain relatively stable.
? Only two routinely collected samples tested positive for influenza virus (one influenza AH3N2
and one influenza B) at PathWest this week.
? Due to an outbreak in a residential care facility, detections of rhinovirus increased this week.
Detections of other non-influenza viruses remain relatively stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- May 18 2013 there were 3,033 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,078, NSW had 525, SA 428, Victoria 409, WA had 364, NT 151, ACT 63 and Tas 15.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending April 7th.

Nationally, ILI notifications remained steady over the period with 76 and 85 notifications
in week 13 and 14 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period decreased slightly with
7 and 8 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 13 and 14 respectively, compared to 6
cases per 1000 in weeks 11 and 12. For the same reporting period in 2012, ILI rates
were higher at 8 and 9 cases per 1000 consultations (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state
basis, it is important to note the sustained high ILI rate in urban NSW

For more information: ASPREN

Flu Tracking
FluTracking is a pilot online health surveillance system which aims to detect epidemics of influenza. It is a joint initiative of The University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Area Health Service (NSW Health) and Hunter Medical Research Institute. Participation is voluntary and involves the completion of a weekly online survey during the influenza season. Data are collected on basic demographics, symptoms of ILI and absenteeism.

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report

Week #3 - ending 12 May 2013
Low level influenza-like illness activity. Graphs will be more informative as more weeks of data are included.

This survey was sent on Monday 13 May 12:21 AM and by Thursday 16 May 9:00 AM we had received 14102
responses (13947 last week) from 8952 people responding for themselves and 5150 household members across Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.0% of vaccinated participants and 2.1% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.1% of vaccinated
participants and 1.0% of unvaccinated participants.
For participants this week, 7679/14098 (54.5%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2762
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2024 (73.3%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · May 25, 2013, 07:25 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

New South Wales

Week ending May 12th.

Summary:
For the week ending 12 May 2013, influenza activity was low in NSW with no indication that the influenza season has started. Emergency Department surveillance ? the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was low and within the usual range for this time of year. Bronchiolitis activity declined this week. Laboratory surveillance ? testing data indicated overall influenza activity was low. Rhinovirus was the most common respiratory virus identified by sentinel laboratories. Community illness surveillance ? data collected from ASPREN and FluTracking.net indicated low ILI activity in NSW. National and International influenza surveillance ? there is a decreasing trend in reports from China of human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

Queensland

Week ending May 20th.

There were 32 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 14 were attributed to influenza B virus, 18 were typed as Influenza A. One hospitalization occurred. There have been 1,119 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 90 hospital admissions including 9 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

South Australia

No report available

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

No Reports for 2013 to date.

For more information: DHHS Communicable Diseases - FluTas

Victoria

For week ending May 19th.

Summary

? Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has remained below baseline levels, with a presentation rate of 1.6 cases per 1000 patients seen.
? From the 32 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 19/5/13) all have been negative for influenza.
? The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus, with three influenza A(H3N2) detected. Of the 29 influenza viruses detected so far this year 1 was A(H1N1)pdm09, 14 were H3, four are untyped and ten were influenza B.
? This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported no hospitalisations. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 7 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09 and five were untyped influenza A patients, from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals.
? Of the 24 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, one was A(H1N1)pdm09, 22 H3 and one influenza B.
? The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 3,167, of which 440 (14%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

Western Australia

For week ending May 19th.

INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains low at about 2.5 ILI/1000 consultations.
? The number and rate of ILI presentations to sentinel EDs increased slightly this week. The number
and rate of admissions remain stable.
? Four samples tested positive for influenza virus (three influenza B and one influenza AH3N2)
at PathWest this week.
? Detections of respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus increased this week. Detections of
other non-influenza viruses remain relatively stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- May 25 2013 there were 3,239 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,136, NSW had 568, SA 460, Victoria 458, WA had 380, NT 156, ACT 66 and Tas 15.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending April 21st.

Nationally, ILI notifications increased slightly over the period with 79 and 97 notifications
in week 15 and 16 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period decreased slightly with
5 and 6 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 15 and 16 respectively, compared to 7
and 8 cases per 1000 in weeks 13 and 14 respectively. For the same reporting period in
2012, ILI rates were much higher at 9 and 14 cases per 1000 consultations (see Figure
1). On a state-by-state basis, it is important to note the sustained high ILI rate in urban
NSW

For more information: ASPREN

Flu Tracking
FluTracking is a pilot online health surveillance system which aims to detect epidemics of influenza. It is a joint initiative of The University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Area Health Service (NSW Health) and Hunter Medical Research Institute. Participation is voluntary and involves the completion of a weekly online survey during the influenza season. Data are collected on basic demographics, symptoms of ILI and absenteeism.

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report

Week #4 - ending 19 May 2013
Low level influenza-like illness activity.

This survey was sent on Monday 20 May 7:36 AM and by Thursday 23 May 9:00 AM we had received 14639
responses (14072 last week) from 9382 people responding for themselves and 5257 household members across
Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
1.8% of vaccinated participants and 2.2% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.0% of vaccinated
participants and 1.3% of unvaccinated participants.
For participants this week, 8187/14638 (55.9%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2860
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2146 (75.0%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · June 1, 2013, 06:12 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

New South Wales

Week ending May 26th.

Summary:
For the week ending 26 May 2013, influenza activity was low in NSW with no indication that the influenza season has started.

Emergency Department surveillance ? the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was low and within the usual range for this time of year. Bronchiolitis activity was steady this week.

Laboratory surveillance ? testing data indicated overall influenza activity was low. Rhinovirus was the most common respiratory virus identified by sentinel laboratories.

Community illness surveillance ? data collected from ASPREN and FluTracking.net indicated low ILI activity in NSW.

National and International influenza surveillance ? there is a decreasing trend in reports from China of human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

Queensland

Week ending May 27th.

There were 41 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 15 were attributed to influenza B virus, 26 were typed as Influenza A. Two hospitalizations occurred. There have been 1,182 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 92 hospital admissions including 10 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

South Australia

No report available

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

No Reports for 2013 to date.

For more information: DHHS Communicable Diseases - FluTas

Victoria

For week ending May 26th.

Summary

? Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has remained below baseline levels, with a presentation rate of 1.3 cases per 1000 patients seen.
? From the 44 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 26/5/13) one has been positive for influenza A(H3N2).
? The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus, with three influenza A(H3N2) and one influenza A untyped detected. Of the 33 influenza viruses detected so far this year 1 was A(H1N1)pdm09, 18 were H3, four are untyped and ten were influenza B.
? This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported no hospitalisations. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 17 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09, nine were untyped influenza A patients, five were influenza A(H3N2) and two were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals.
? Of the 24 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, one was A(H1N1)pdm09, 22 H3 and one influenza B. The majority of B viruses circulating at the moment in Australia are B/Massachusetts/2/2012, which are from the same B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage as B/Wisconsin/1/2010, which is in the 2012 Southern Hemisphere vaccine.
? The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 3,379, of which 494 (15%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

Western Australia

For week ending May 26th.

INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains low and stable at about 2.5 ILI/1000
consultations.
? The number and rate of ILI presentations to sentinel EDs have been increasing modestly over the
past three weeks. The number and rate of admissions remain relatively stable.
? Four routinely collected samples tested positive for influenza virus at PathWest this week; two
influenza B, one influenza AH1N1 and one influenza AH3N2.
? Detections of respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus continue to increase. Detections
of rhinovirus decreased this week and detections of other non-influenza viruses remain relatively
stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Jun 1 2013 there were 3,485 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,203, NSW had 608, SA 513, Victoria 512, WA had 402, NT 159, ACT 73 and Tas 15.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending April 21st.

Nationally, ILI notifications increased slightly over the period with 79 and 97 notifications
in week 15 and 16 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period decreased slightly with
5 and 6 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 15 and 16 respectively, compared to 7
and 8 cases per 1000 in weeks 13 and 14 respectively. For the same reporting period in
2012, ILI rates were much higher at 9 and 14 cases per 1000 consultations (see Figure
1). On a state-by-state basis, it is important to note the sustained high ILI rate in urban
NSW

For more information: ASPREN

Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #5 - ending 26 May 2013
Low level influenza-like illness activity.
This survey was sent on Monday 27 May 12:22 AM and by Thursday 30 May 9:00 AM we had received 14816
responses (14760 last week) from 9481 people responding for themselves and 5335 household members across
Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.2% of vaccinated participants and 2.7% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.2% of vaccinated
participants and 1.8% of unvaccinated participants.
For participants this week, 8445/14816 (57.0%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2922
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2220 (76.0%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · June 8, 2013, 06:15 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

Not many updates available this week. New information is indicated with a *

New South Wales

Week ending May 26th.

Summary:
For the week ending 26 May 2013, influenza activity was low in NSW with no indication that the influenza season has started.

Emergency Department surveillance ? the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was low and within the usual range for this time of year. Bronchiolitis activity was steady this week.

Laboratory surveillance ? testing data indicated overall influenza activity was low. Rhinovirus was the most common respiratory virus identified by sentinel laboratories.

Community illness surveillance ? data collected from ASPREN and FluTracking.net indicated low ILI activity in NSW.

National and International influenza surveillance ? there is a decreasing trend in reports from China of human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

Queensland

Week ending May 27th.

There were 41 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 15 were attributed to influenza B virus, 26 were typed as Influenza A. Two hospitalizations occurred. There have been 1,182 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 92 hospital admissions including 10 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

South Australia

No report available

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

No Reports for 2013 to date.

For more information: DHHS Communicable Diseases - FluTas

Victoria

For week ending May 26th.

Summary

? Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has remained below baseline levels, with a presentation rate of 1.3 cases per 1000 patients seen.
? From the 44 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 26/5/13) one has been positive for influenza A(H3N2).
? The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus, with three influenza A(H3N2) and one influenza A untyped detected. Of the 33 influenza viruses detected so far this year 1 was A(H1N1)pdm09, 18 were H3, four are untyped and ten were influenza B.
? This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported no hospitalisations. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 17 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09, nine were untyped influenza A patients, five were influenza A(H3N2) and two were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals.
? Of the 24 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, one was A(H1N1)pdm09, 22 H3 and one influenza B. The majority of B viruses circulating at the moment in Australia are B/Massachusetts/2/2012, which are from the same B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage as B/Wisconsin/1/2010, which is in the 2012 Southern Hemisphere vaccine.
? The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 3,379, of which 494 (15%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

*Western Australia

For week ending June 2nd.

INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs increased to about 4 ILI/1000 consultations this week.
? The number and rate of ILI presentations to sentinel EDs continue to increase moderately. The
number and rate of admissions remain relatively stable.
? Four routinely collected samples tested positive for influenza virus at PathWest this week; two
influenza AH3N2 and two influenza A unspecified virus.
? Detections of respiratory syncytial virus continue to increase. Detections of rhinovirus
decreased this week and detections of other non-influenza viruses remain relatively stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

*Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Jun 7 2013 there were 3,654 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,250, NSW had 660, SA 549, Victoria 529, WA had 416, NT 160, ACT 75 and Tas 15.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending April 21st.

Nationally, ILI notifications increased slightly over the period with 79 and 97 notifications
in week 15 and 16 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period decreased slightly with
5 and 6 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 15 and 16 respectively, compared to 7
and 8 cases per 1000 in weeks 13 and 14 respectively. For the same reporting period in
2012, ILI rates were much higher at 9 and 14 cases per 1000 consultations (see Figure
1). On a state-by-state basis, it is important to note the sustained high ILI rate in urban
NSW

For more information: ASPREN

*Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #6 - ending 2 June 2013

Low level influenza-like illness activity.
This survey was sent on Monday 3 June 12:14 AM and by Thursday 6 June 9:00 AM we had received 13958
responses (14819 last week) from 8957 people responding for themselves and 5001 household members across
Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.5% of vaccinated participants and 2.9% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.4% of vaccinated
participants and 1.8% of unvaccinated participants.
For participants this week, 8084/13958 (57.9%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2706
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2080 (76.9%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · June 15, 2013, 07:43 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

New information is indicated with a *

*New South Wales

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

Queensland

Week ending May 27th.

There were 41 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 15 were attributed to influenza B virus, 26 were typed as Influenza A. Two hospitalizations occurred. There have been 1,182 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 92 hospital admissions including 10 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

South Australia

No report available

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

No Reports for 2013 to date.

For more information: DHHS Communicable Diseases - FluTas

*Victoria

Report No: 06
Week Ending: June 09, 2013
Summary

? Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has remained below baseline levels, with a presentation rate of 2.2 cases per 1000 patients seen.
? From the 75 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 9/6/13) one has been positive for influenza A(H3N2) and one for influenza B.
? The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus and RSV, with no influenza detected. Of the 36 influenza viruses detected so far this year two were A(H1N1)pdm09, 19 were H3, four are untyped and 11 were influenza B.
? This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported two hospitalisations from influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 24 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09, 11 were untyped influenza A patients, eight were influenza A(H3N2) and four were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 24 hospitalisations two were admitted to ICU, one was pregnant and 20 had comorbidities.
? Of the 30 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, one was A(H1N1)pdm09, 24 H3 and five influenza B.
? The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 3,763, of which 555 (15%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

Western Australia

For week ending June 2nd.

INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs increased to about 4 ILI/1000 consultations this week.
? The number and rate of ILI presentations to sentinel EDs continue to increase moderately. The
number and rate of admissions remain relatively stable.
? Four routinely collected samples tested positive for influenza virus at PathWest this week; two
influenza AH3N2 and two influenza A unspecified virus.
? Detections of respiratory syncytial virus continue to increase. Detections of rhinovirus
decreased this week and detections of other non-influenza viruses remain relatively stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

*Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Jun 15 2013 there were 3,763 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,279, NSW had 688, SA 564, Victoria 555, WA had 426, NT 160, ACT 76 and Tas 15.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

*Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending June 2nd.

Nationally, ILI notifications remained steady over the period with 82 and 91 notifications
in week 21 and 22 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased with 4 and 6
cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 21 and 22 respectively, compared to 4 cases
per 1000 in weeks 19 and 20. For the same reporting period in 2012, ILI rates were
higher at 8 cases per 1000 consultations (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is
important to note the increased ILI rate in urban NSW

For more information: ASPREN

*Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #7 - ending 9 June 2013

Low level influenza-like illness activity.
This survey was sent on Monday 10 June 3:18 AM and by Thursday 13 June 9:00 AM we had received 14502
responses (13911 last week) from 9325 people responding for themselves and 5177 household members across
Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.7% of vaccinated participants and 2.8% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.5% of vaccinated
participants and 1.5% of unvaccinated participants.

For participants this week, 8405/14502 (58.0%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2856
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2195 (76.9%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · June 22, 2013, 06:23 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

New information is indicated with a *

*New South Wales

Week 24 Ending 16 June 2013

Summary:
For the week ending 16 June 2013, influenza activity was low but was increasing in NSW, indicating that the start of the influenza may be approaching.
Emergency Department surveillance – the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations decreased remained below the usual range for this time of year. The number of ILI presentations admitted to critical care declined.
Laboratory surveillance – testing data indicated overall influenza activity was low but on the increase. Rhinovirus was the most common respiratory virus identified by sentinel laboratories.
Community illness surveillance – data collected from ASPREN and FluTracking.net on ILI activity in NSW remained steady.
National and International influenza surveillance – low influenza activity worldwide, no further reports of human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain from China.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

*Queensland

Week ending June 9th.

There were 38 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 12 were attributed to influenza B virus, 24 were listed as Influenza A unsubtyped and 2 as A/H3N2. No hospitalizations occurred. There have been 1,279 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 98 hospital admissions including 11 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

South Australia

No report available

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

No Reports for 2013 to date.

For more information: DHHS Communicable Diseases - FluTas

Victoria

Report No: 06
Week Ending: June 09, 2013
Summary

• Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has remained below baseline levels, with a presentation rate of 2.2 cases per 1000 patients seen.
• From the 75 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 – 9/6/13) one has been positive for influenza A(H3N2) and one for influenza B.
• The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus and RSV, with no influenza detected. Of the 36 influenza viruses detected so far this year two were A(H1N1)pdm09, 19 were H3, four are untyped and 11 were influenza B.
• This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported two hospitalisations from influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 24 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09, 11 were untyped influenza A patients, eight were influenza A(H3N2) and four were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 24 hospitalisations two were admitted to ICU, one was pregnant and 20 had comorbidities.
• Of the 30 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, one was A(H1N1)pdm09, 24 H3 and five influenza B.
• The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 3,763, of which 555 (15&#37

were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

*Western Australia

For week ending June 16th.

INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA.
· The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains low at about 2 ILI/1000 consultations this week.
· The number and rate of ILI presentations to sentinel EDs decreased this week. The number and rate of
admissions remains relatively stable.
· Three routinely collected samples tested positive for influenza virus at PathWest this week; two
influenza B and one influenza AH3N2 virus.
· Detections of respiratory syncytial virus stabilised this week. In comparison, detections of
rhinovirus increased and detections of other non-influenza viruses remain relatively stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

*Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Jun 22 2013 there were 4,123 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,354, NSW had 789, Victoria 642, SA 610, WA had 456, NT 166, ACT 90 and Tas 16.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending June 2nd.

Nationally, ILI notifications remained steady over the period with 82 and 91 notifications
in week 21 and 22 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased with 4 and 6
cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 21 and 22 respectively, compared to 4 cases
per 1000 in weeks 19 and 20. For the same reporting period in 2012, ILI rates were
higher at 8 cases per 1000 consultations (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is
important to note the increased ILI rate in urban NSW

For more information: ASPREN

*Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #8 - ending 16 June 2013
Low level influenza-like illness activity.
This survey was sent on Monday 17 June 12:31 AM and by Thursday 20 June 9:00 AM we had received 14574
responses (14619 last week) from 9398 people responding for themselves and 5176 household members across
Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.4% of vaccinated participants and 2.5% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.3% of vaccinated
participants and 1.4% of unvaccinated participants.

For participants this week, 8568/14574 (58.8%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2862
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2211 (77.3%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · June 29, 2013, 06:19 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

New information is indicated with a *

*New South Wales

Week 25 Ending 23 June 2013

Summary:
For the week ending 23 June 2013, influenza activity was increasing in NSW, indicating that the start of the influenza may be approaching.
Emergency Department surveillance ? the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was steady and remained below the usual range for this time of year. The number of ILI presentations admitted to critical care increased. Laboratory surveillance ? testing data indicated overall influenza activity continues to increase. Respiratory syncytial virus was the most common respiratory virus identified by sentinel laboratories.
Community illness surveillance ? data collected from ASPREN and FluTracking.net on ILI activity in NSW remained steady. National and International influenza surveillance ? low influenza activity worldwide, no further reports of human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain from China.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

*Queensland

Week ending June 16th.

There were 39 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 7 were attributed to influenza B virus, 31 were listed as Influenza A unsubtyped and 1 as A/H1N1pdm09. One hospitalization occurred. There have been 1,337 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 99 hospital admissions including 11 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

South Australia

No report available

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

No Reports for 2013 to date.

For more information: DHHS Communicable Diseases - FluTas

*Victoria

Report No 7 Week ending 16/06/13
Summary

 Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has decreased to a season low with a presentation rate of 1.1 cases per 1000
patients seen.
 From the 86 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 16/6/13) two have been positive for
influenza A(H3N2) and one for influenza B.
 The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus, with one influenza A
untyped and one influenza B detected. Of the 38 influenza viruses detected so far this year two were
A(H1N1)pdm09, 19 were H3, five are untyped and 12 were influenza B.
 This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported one hospitalisation from influenza A(H3N2).
Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 26 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient
with A(H1N1)pdm09, 11 were untyped influenza A patients, ten were influenza A(H3N2) and four were influenza
B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 24 hospitalisations two were admitted to ICU, one was
pregnant and 21 had comorbidities.
 Of the 34 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on
Influenza year to date from Victoria, one was A(H1N1)pdm09, 28 H3 and five influenza B.
 The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
(NNDSS) to date was 4,009, of which 595 (15%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

*Western Australia

For week ending June 23rd.

INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains low and relatively stable at about 3 ILI/1000
consultations this week.
? The number and rate of ILI presentations to sentinel EDs increased slightly this week. The number and
rate of admissions remains relatively stable.
? Four routinely collected samples tested positive for influenza AH3N2 virus at PathWest this
week.
? Detections of respiratory syncytial virus continue to increase. Detections of parainfluenza
viruses also increased, but detections of other non-influenza viruses remain relatively stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

*Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Jun 29 2013 there were 4,235 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,371, NSW had 829, Victoria 667, SA 626, WA had 464, NT 168, ACT 93 and Tas 17.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending June 2nd.

Nationally, ILI notifications remained steady over the period with 82 and 91 notifications
in week 21 and 22 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased with 4 and 6
cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 21 and 22 respectively, compared to 4 cases
per 1000 in weeks 19 and 20. For the same reporting period in 2012, ILI rates were
higher at 8 cases per 1000 consultations (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is
important to note the increased ILI rate in urban NSW

For more information: ASPREN

*Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #8 - ending 16 June 2013

Low level influenza-like illness activity.

This survey was sent on Monday 17 June 12:31 AM and by Thursday 20 June 9:00 AM we had received 14574
responses (14619 last week) from 9398 people responding for themselves and 5176 household members across
Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.4% of vaccinated participants and 2.5% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.3% of vaccinated
participants and 1.4% of unvaccinated participants.

For participants this week, 8568/14574 (58.8%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2862
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2211 (77.3%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · July 6, 2013, 07:36 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

Updated information is indicated with a *

New South Wales

Week 25 Ending 23 June 2013

Summary:
For the week ending 23 June 2013, influenza activity was increasing in NSW, indicating that the start of the influenza may be approaching.
Emergency Department surveillance ? the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was steady and remained below the usual range for this time of year. The number of ILI presentations admitted to critical care increased. Laboratory surveillance ? testing data indicated overall influenza activity continues to increase. Respiratory syncytial virus was the most common respiratory virus identified by sentinel laboratories.
Community illness surveillance ? data collected from ASPREN and FluTracking.net on ILI activity in NSW remained steady. National and International influenza surveillance ? low influenza activity worldwide, no further reports of human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain from China.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

*Queensland

Week ending June 23rd.

There were 34 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 7 were attributed to influenza B virus, 25 were listed as Influenza A unsubtyped and 2 as A/H3N2. Three hospitalizations occurred. There have been 1,376 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 104 hospital admissions including 12 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

South Australia

No report available

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

No Reports for 2013 to date.

For more information: DHHS Communicable Diseases - FluTas

*Victoria

Report No 9 Week ending 30/06/13
Summary
 Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has decreased this week to a presentation rate of 1.1 cases per 1000 patients
seen, remaining under baseline levels. MMDS rates increased to over baseline levels, which may suggest the start
of the influenza season.
 From the 104 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 30/6/13) two have been positive for
influenza A(H3N2) and three for influenza B.
 The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus and RSV, with four influenza
detected, two influenza A (H3N2), one influenza A untyped and one influenza B. Of the 42 influenza viruses
detected so far this year two were A(H1N1)pdm09, 22 were H3, five are untyped and 13 were influenza B.
 This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported one hospitalisations from Influenza B. Since
6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 30 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient with
A(H1N1)pdm09, 13 were untyped influenza A patients, ten were influenza A(H3N2) and six were influenza B from
the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 30 hospitalisations two were admitted to ICU, one was pregnant and 24
had comorbidities.
 Of the 35 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza
year to date from Victoria, one was A(H1N1)pdm09, 29 H3 and five influenza B.
 The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
(NNDSS) to date was 4,235, of which 667 (16%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

Western Australia

For week ending June 23rd.

INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains low and relatively stable at about 3 ILI/1000
consultations this week.
? The number and rate of ILI presentations to sentinel EDs increased slightly this week. The number and
rate of admissions remains relatively stable.
? Four routinely collected samples tested positive for influenza AH3N2 virus at PathWest this
week.
? Detections of respiratory syncytial virus continue to increase. Detections of parainfluenza
viruses also increased, but detections of other non-influenza viruses remain relatively stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Jun 29 2013 there were 4,235 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,371, NSW had 829, Victoria 667, SA 626, WA had 464, NT 168, ACT 93 and Tas 17.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending June 2nd.

Nationally, ILI notifications remained steady over the period with 82 and 91 notifications
in week 21 and 22 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased with 4 and 6
cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 21 and 22 respectively, compared to 4 cases
per 1000 in weeks 19 and 20. For the same reporting period in 2012, ILI rates were
higher at 8 cases per 1000 consultations (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is
important to note the increased ILI rate in urban NSW

For more information: ASPREN

*Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #10 - ending 30 June 2013

Low level influenza-like illness activity.

This survey was sent on Monday 1 July 5:16 AM and by Thursday 4 July 9:00 AM we had received 14295
responses (14509 last week) from 9254 people responding for themselves and 5041 household members across
Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.7% of vaccinated participants and 3.0% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.6% of vaccinated
participants and 1.7% of unvaccinated participants.

For participants this week, 8503/14295 (59.5%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2828
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2186 (77.3%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · July 13, 2013, 07:20 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

Updated information is indicated with a *

*New South Wales

Week 27 Ending 7 July 2013

Summary:
For the week ending 7 July 2013, influenza activity continued to increase and gave a strong indication that the influenza season has started. Emergency Department surveillance – the index of increase for influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was above the seasonal threshold, suggesting that the influenza season has started in NSW. The number of ILI presentations admitted to critical care increased further this week and bronchiolitis remained elevated. Laboratory surveillance – the proportion of respiratory samples positive for influenza A or B increased to 7.6%, influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 appears to be the dominant circulating strain . RSV also remains prevalent. Community illness surveillance – data collected from eGPs, ASPREN and FluTracking.net on ILI activity in NSW remained steady. National and International influenza surveillance – low influenza activity worldwide, no further reports of human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain from China.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

*Queensland

Week ending July 8th.

There were 40 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 13 were attributed to influenza B virus, 26 were listed as Influenza A unsubtyped and 1 as A/H1N1(pdm09). Two hospitalizations occurred. There have been 1,476 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 112 hospital admissions including 13 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

*South Australia

Week ending June 29th

Influenza
Sixty-one cases of influenza were reported this week, compared to 25 cases reported in the previous week. Of these cases, 39 were attributed to influenza A virus, and 22 were typed as influenza B. There have been 717 influenza cases year-to-date compared with 1,266 cases reported for the same period last year.

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

*Tasmania

Week ending June 23rd

Summary
• Systems are reporting low levels of influenza like illness, low levels of influenza testing, and a small number of influenza cases notified during 2013 to date.
Influenza notifications
Tasmanian laboratories are required to notify evidence of influenza infection in specimens collected from patients. These specimens are usually nose or throat swabs but sometimes blood tests.
18 influenza notifications have been received during 2013 up to 23 June 2013. This low level of activity is typical outside of the peak season, when there is limited circulation of influenza in the community.
Influenza types
During 2013 up to 23 June, 15 influenza A notifications and 3 influenza B notification were received.

For more information: DHHS Tasmania (search FluTAS)

*Victoria

Report No: 10
Week Ending: July 07, 2013
Summary

• Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has increased this week to a presentation rate of 3.1 cases per 1000 patients seen, remaining under baseline levels. MMDS rates remained over baseline levels, which may suggest the start of the influenza season.
• From the 123 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 – 7/7/13) two have been positive for influenza A(H3N2) and five for influenza B.
• The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus, parainfluenza and RSV, with three influenza detected, one influenza A (H1N1), one influenza A untyped and one influenza B. Of the 45 influenza viruses detected so far this year four were A(H1N1)pdm09, 22 were H3, five are untyped and 14 were influenza B.
• This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported one hospitalisations from Influenza B. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 32 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09, 13 were untyped influenza A patients, eleven were influenza A(H3N2) and seven were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 30 hospitalisations two were admitted to ICU, one was pregnant and 25 had comorbidities.
• Of the 46 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, three was A(H1N1)pdm09, 29 H3 and 14 influenza B.
• The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 4,969, of which 853 (17%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

*Western Australia

WEEK ENDING 7TH OF JULY 2013
KEY POINTS
INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA, but there were early indications of
increasing activity in the past week.
· The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains stable at 2 ILI/1000 consultations, while the
number and rate of ILI presentations to sentinel EDs has increased gradually over recent weeks.
· The number of influenza notifications increased this week (27 cases) but levels remain low compared to
recent years. Routine detections of influenza virus and the proportion of test positives at PathWest
increased sharply this week, albeit from a low base. Eighteen routinely collected samples were reported
as positive, comprising 11 influenza A/H3N2, 1 influenza A/H1N1, 2 influenza A (unsubtyped), and 4
influenza B virus.
· Respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus activity increased this week.
· Detections of other non-influenza viruses remain relatively stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

*Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Jul 13 2013 there were 5,048 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,498, NSW had 1,087, Victoria 872, SA 785, WA had 522, NT 172, ACT 92 and Tas 20.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

*Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending June 16th.

Nationally, ILI notifications increased significantly over the period with 193 and 170
notifications in week 23 and 24 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased
significantly with 10 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 23 and 24, compared to 4
and 6 cases per 1000 in weeks 21 and 22 respectively. For the same reporting period in
2012, ILI rates were slightly higher at 11 and 13 cases per 1000 consultations
respectively (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is important to note the
increased ILI rate in urban NSW .

For more information: ASPREN

*Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #11 - ending 7 July 2013
Low level influenza-like illness activity.

This survey was sent on Monday 8 July 4:54 AM and by Thursday 11 July 9:00 AM we had received 14030
responses (14303 last week) from 9078 people responding for themselves and 4952 household members across
Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.5% of vaccinated participants and 2.8% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.5% of vaccinated
participants and 1.5% of unvaccinated participants.
For participants this week, 8362/14027 (59.6%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2779
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2167 (78.0%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · July 20, 2013, 07:12 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

Updated information is indicated with a *

*New South Wales

Week 28 Ending 14 July 2013

Summary:
For the week ending 14 July 2013, influenza activity continued to increase and gave a strong indication that the influenza season has started. Emergency Department surveillance ? the index of increase for influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was above the seasonal threshold. The current level is consistent with the early stage of the winter influenza season.
Laboratory surveillance ? the number of respiratory samples positive for influenza A and B continues to increase (7.3%), with influenza B activity increasing this week. Other respiratory virus activity is also high.
Community illness surveillance ? data collected from eGPs, ASPREN and FluTracking on ILI activity in NSW remained steady.
National and International influenza surveillance ? low influenza activity worldwide, no further reports of human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain from China.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

Queensland

Week ending July 8th.

There were 40 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 13 were attributed to influenza B virus, 26 were listed as Influenza A unsubtyped and 1 as A/H1N1(pdm09). Two hospitalizations occurred. There have been 1,476 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 112 hospital admissions including 13 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

*South Australia

7 July to 13 July 2013

Seventy-six cases of influenza were reported this week, compared to 67 cases reported in the previous week. Of these cases, 61 were attributed to influenza A virus, and 15 were typed as influenza B. There have been 862 influenza cases notified year-to-date compared with 2,317 cases reported for the same period last year.

Cases comprised of 34 males and 42 females. Of these, 25% were children <10 years of age and 16% were reported in persons aged 65 years or older. Since the beginning of 2013, 17% of notified influenza cases were reported in children <10 years of age.

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

*Tasmania

Week ending July 7th

 Systems are reporting a recent increase in influenza like illness in Tasmania, though at levels lower than at this time in 2012. Influenza notification data and respiratory pathogen testing suggests that this increase is likely to be due to viruses other than influenza.
22 influenza notifications have been received during 2013 up to 7 July. This low level of activity is typical outside of the peak season, when there is limited circulation of influenza in the community.

For more information: DHHS Tasmania (search FluTAS)

*Victoria

Report No 11 Week ending 14/07/13
Summary
 Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity is the same this week with a presentation rate of 3.0 cases per 1000 patients
seen, remaining under baseline levels. MMDS rates remained over baseline levels, which may suggest the start
of the influenza season.
 From the 135 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 14/7/13) two have been positive for
influenza A(H3N2) and seven for influenza B.
 The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus, with a significant increase
in the number of influenza B detected. Of the 56 influenza viruses detected so far this year seven were
A(H1N1)pdm09, 22 were H3, six are untyped/ yet to be typed and 21 were influenza B.
 This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported four hospitalisations, two from Influenza B
and two from influenza A untyped. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 38 hospitalisations with confirmed
influenza, of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09, 15 were untyped influenza A patients, twelve were
influenza A(H3N2) and ten were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 38 hospitalisations
three were admitted to ICU, one was pregnant and 31 had comorbidities.
 Of the 46 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on
Influenza year to date from Victoria, three were A(H1N1)pdm09, 33 H3 and 16 influenza B.
 The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
(NNDSS) to date was 5,048, of which 872 (17%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

Western Australia

WEEK ENDING 7TH OF JULY 2013
KEY POINTS
INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Summary: Influenza virus activity currently remains low in WA, but there were early indications of
increasing activity in the past week.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains stable at 2 ILI/1000 consultations, while the
number and rate of ILI presentations to sentinel EDs has increased gradually over recent weeks.
? The number of influenza notifications increased this week (27 cases) but levels remain low compared to
recent years. Routine detections of influenza virus and the proportion of test positives at PathWest
increased sharply this week, albeit from a low base. Eighteen routinely collected samples were reported
as positive, comprising 11 influenza A/H3N2, 1 influenza A/H1N1, 2 influenza A (unsubtyped), and 4
influenza B virus.
? Respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus activity increased this week.
? Detections of other non-influenza viruses remain relatively stable.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

*Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Jul 20 2013 there were 5,359 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,553, NSW had 1,171, Victoria 968, SA 838, WA had 541, NT 172, ACT 92 and Tas 24.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending June 16th.

Nationally, ILI notifications increased significantly over the period with 193 and 170
notifications in week 23 and 24 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased
significantly with 10 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 23 and 24, compared to 4
and 6 cases per 1000 in weeks 21 and 22 respectively. For the same reporting period in
2012, ILI rates were slightly higher at 11 and 13 cases per 1000 consultations
respectively (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is important to note the
increased ILI rate in urban NSW .

For more information: ASPREN

*Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #12 - ending 14 July 2013

Low level influenza-like illness activity.
This survey was sent on Monday 15 July 12:43 AM and by Tuesday 16 July 9:00 AM we had received 12900
responses (13080 last week) from 8350 people responding for themselves and 4550 household members across
Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.6% of vaccinated participants and 2.7% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.4% of vaccinated
participants and 1.4% of unvaccinated participants.
For participants this week, 7683/12900 (59.6%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2517
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 1944 (77.2%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

No reports available to date in 2013

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · July 27, 2013, 06:50 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

Updated information is indicated with a *

New South Wales

Week 28 Ending 14 July 2013

Summary:
For the week ending 14 July 2013, influenza activity continued to increase and gave a strong indication that the influenza season has started. Emergency Department surveillance ? the index of increase for influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was above the seasonal threshold. The current level is consistent with the early stage of the winter influenza season.
Laboratory surveillance ? the number of respiratory samples positive for influenza A and B continues to increase (7.3%), with influenza B activity increasing this week. Other respiratory virus activity is also high.
Community illness surveillance ? data collected from eGPs, ASPREN and FluTracking on ILI activity in NSW remained steady.
National and International influenza surveillance ? low influenza activity worldwide, no further reports of human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain from China.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

*Queensland

Week ending July 15th.

There were 74 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 20 were attributed to influenza B virus, 49 were listed as Influenza A unsubtyped and 5 as A/H1N1(pdm09). Five hospitalizations occurred. There have been 1,566 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 120 hospital admissions including 13 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

*South Australia

14 July to 20 July 2013

Ninety-four cases of influenza were reported this week, compared to 76 cases reported in the previous week. Of these cases, 68 were attributed to influenza A virus, and 26 were typed as influenza B. There have been 956 influenza cases notified year-to-date compared with 2,803 cases reported for the same period last year.

Cases comprised of 48 males and 46 females. Of these, 22% were children <10 years of age and 18% were reported in persons aged 65 years or older. Since the beginning of 2013, 18% of notified influenza cases were reported in children <10 years of age.

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

*Tasmania

Week ending July 21st

Surveillance systems are reporting an increase in influenza like illness in Tasmania at levels lower than at this time
in 2012. Influenza notification data and respiratory pathogen testing suggests that viruses other than influenza are
contributing to this increase.

25 influenza notifications have been received during 2013 up to 21 July. There has been a small increase in the
number of influenza notifications received during the most recent fortnight.

During 2013 up to 21 July, 20 Influenza A notifications and 5 Influenza B notifications were received.

For more information: DHHS Tasmania

*Victoria

Report No: 12

Week Ending: July 21, 2013
Summary

? Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity is slightly higher this week with a presentation rate of 2.8 cases per 1000 patients seen, remaining under baseline levels. MMDS rates remained around baseline levels.
? From the 158 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 21/7/13) two have been positive for influenza A and 13 for influenza B.
? The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus and RSV, again with a significantly high number of influenza B detected. Of the 68 influenza viruses detected so far this year ten were A(H1N1)pdm09, 23 were H3, six are untyped/ yet to be typed and 29 were influenza B.
? This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported ten hospitalisations, six from influenza B and two from influenza A untyped and two A(H3N2). Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 53 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09, 20 were untyped influenza A patients, 15 were influenza A(H3N2) and 17 were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 53 hospitalisations three were admitted to ICU, one was pregnant and 43 had comorbidities.
? Of the 46 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, four were A(H1N1)pdm09, 35 H3 and 36 influenza B.
? The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 5,988, of which 1,168 (23%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

*Western Australia

WEEK ENDING 21ST OF JULY 2013

Summary: Influenza activity is beginning to increase in WA.
? The number of detections of influenza virus increased this week, as did the number of hospitalizations
among people presenting to emergency departments with ILI.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains low and relatively steady at about 4 ILI/1000
consultations this week.
? The proportion of notified influenza cases admitted to remain below average levels for this time of year.
? The percentage of samples testing positive for influenza at PathWest increased to 11% this week.
? Thirty-seven routine detections for influenza virus were made this week: 4 influenza B, 3 influenza
A/H1N1, 27 influenza A/H3N2, and 3 influenza A/unsubtyped.
? Detections of respiratory syncytial virus increased this week. In comparison, detections of other
non-influenza viruses decreased.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

*Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Jul 27 2013 there were 6,393 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,741, NSW had 1,495, Victoria 1,267, SA 975, WA had 613, NT 177, ACT 92 and Tas 33.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

For Week ending June 16th.

Nationally, ILI notifications increased significantly over the period with 193 and 170
notifications in week 23 and 24 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased
significantly with 10 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 23 and 24, compared to 4
and 6 cases per 1000 in weeks 21 and 22 respectively. For the same reporting period in
2012, ILI rates were slightly higher at 11 and 13 cases per 1000 consultations
respectively (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is important to note the
increased ILI rate in urban NSW .

For more information: ASPREN

*Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #13 - ending 21 July 2013

Low levels of influenza-like illness activity.

This survey was sent on Monday 22 July 12:19 AM and by Thursday 25 July 9:00 AM we had received 14672
responses (14348 last week) from 9408 people responding for themselves and 5264 household members across
Australia.

It is not uncommon for cough and fever rates to be
slightly higher in vaccinated than unvaccinated
participants when there is low level influenza activity.
Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by 2.4%
of vaccinated participants and 2.1% of unvaccinated
participants. Fever, cough and absence from normal
duties was reported by 1.4% of vaccinated participants
and 1.0% of unvaccinated participants.

For participants this week, 8729/14671 (59.5%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2917
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2272 (77.9%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

*Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

Australian influenza report 2013?22 June to 05 July 2013 (#02/2013)

Current Report Summary

The onset of the winter influenza season is usually marked by a distinct and sustained rise in influenza activity. Nationally, influenza activity has started to increase. Increases are mainly in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Compared with more recent years, it appears that nationally the 2013 winter influenza season will be starting later.
As at 5 July 2013, there have been 5,097 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported. This fortnight there was an almost 60% increase in the number of notifications reported to NNDSS compared with the last fortnight.
Nationally, whilst influenza A remains the predominant influenza virus type (60%), the proportion of influenza B notifications has continued to increase. During the 2012 season there were very few notifications of influenza A(H1N1) pdm09. So far in 2013 whilst the majority of influenza A reports are unsubtyped, more than 10% of overall notifications have been reported as influenza A(H1N1) pdm09.
The number of influenza associated hospitalisations so far in 2013 remains low.
The WHO has reported that influenza activity in the northern hemisphere temperate zones remains at inter-seasonal levels. Across most regions of tropical Asia, activity has decreased, however in Sri Lanka and Viet Nam influenza activity associated with influenza A has continued to remain relatively high.
The United States has reported further cases of the influenza A(H3N2) variant virus that were associated with fair attendance and contact with swine. The virus detected is the same as the variant viruses detected during the 2012 multi-state outbreak, which was also associated with swine exposure at agricultural fairs.
The WHO has reported on additional retrospectively detected laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China. To date, the WHO has been informed of a total of 133 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 43 deaths. Until the source of infection has been identified and controlled, it is expected that there will be further cases of human infection with the virus.

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · August 3, 2013, 07:16 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

Updated information is indicated with a *

*New South Wales

Week 29 Ending 21 July 2013

Summary:
For the week ending 21 July 2013, influenza activity continued to increase and gave a strong indication that the influenza season has started. Emergency Department surveillance ? the index of increase for influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was above the seasonal threshold. The current level is consistent with the winter influenza season.
Laboratory surveillance ? the proportion of respiratory samples positive for influenza A or B continues to increase (14.2%), with influenza B activity increasing this week. Other respiratory virus activity is also high.
Community illness surveillance ? data collected from eGPs, ASPREN and FluTracking on ILI activity in NSW remained steady.
National and International influenza surveillance ? One new human case of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain from China; otherwise low influenza activity worldwide.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

*Queensland

Week ending July 22nd.

There were 87 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 26 were attributed to influenza B virus, 56 were listed as Influenza A unsubtyped, 3 as A/H3N2 and 2 as A/H1N1(pdm09). Five hospitalizations occurred. There have been 1,667 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 125 hospital admissions including 13 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

*South Australia

21 July to 27 July 2013

Seventy-one cases of influenza were reported this week, compared to 93 cases reported in the previous week. Of these cases, 46 were attributed to influenza A virus and 25 were typed as influenza B. There have been 1028 influenza cases notified year-to-date compared with 3,236 cases reported for the same period last year.

Cases comprised of 24 males and 47 females. Of these, 19% were children <10 years of age and 8% were reported in persons aged 65 years or older. Since the beginning of 2013, 18% of notified influenza cases were reported in children <10 years of age.

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

Tasmania

Week ending July 21st

Surveillance systems are reporting an increase in influenza like illness in Tasmania at levels lower than at this time
in 2012. Influenza notification data and respiratory pathogen testing suggests that viruses other than influenza are
contributing to this increase.

25 influenza notifications have been received during 2013 up to 21 July. There has been a small increase in the
number of influenza notifications received during the most recent fortnight.

During 2013 up to 21 July, 20 Influenza A notifications and 5 Influenza B notifications were received.

For more information: DHHS Tasmania

*Victoria

Report No: 13

Week Ending: July 28, 2013
Summary

? Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has increased slightly this week to a presentation rate of 3.5 cases per 1000 patients seen, remaining under baseline levels.
? From the 92 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 23/6/13) two have been positive for influenza A(H3N2) and one for influenza B.
? The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus, with no influenza detected. Of the 38 influenza viruses detected so far this year two were A(H1N1)pdm09, 20 were H3, four are untyped and 12 were influenza B.
? This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported no hospitalisations. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 27 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09, 12 were untyped influenza A patients, nine were influenza A(H3N2) and five were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 27 hospitalisations two were admitted to ICU, one was pregnant and 22 had comorbidities.
? Of the 35 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, one was A(H1N1)pdm09, 29 H3 and five influenza B.
? The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 4,235, of which 667 (16%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

*Western Australia

WEEK ENDING 28TH OF JULY 2013

Summary: Influenza activity is beginning to increase in WA, but all indicators are relatively low for this
time of the year.
? The number of detections of influenza virus was steady this week, with mostly influenza A/H3N2 virus
detected.
? The rate of ILI presentations to SPN(WA) GPs remains low at about 2 ILI/1000 consultations.
? The number of notified influenza cases admitted to hospital increased this week, but the proportion of
cases admitted remains below average levels for this time of year.
? The percentage of samples testing positive for influenza at PathWest decreased to 7% this week.
? Detections of respiratory syncytial virus increased this week. In comparison, detections of other
non-influenza viruses remained steady or decreased.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

*Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Aug 3 2013 there were 7,063 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in QLD with 1,888, NSW had 1,740, Victoria 1,390, SA 1,061, WA had 677, NT 179, ACT 92 and Tas 36.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

*Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

No. 13, 2013
17th June ? 23rd June 2013

Nationally, ILI notifications decreased over the period with 218 and 80 notifications in
week 25 and 26 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased significantly with
11 and 9 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 25 and 26 respectively, compared to
10 cases per 1000 in weeks 23 and 24 respectively. For the same reporting period in
2012, ILI rates were slightly higher at 10 and 14 cases per 1000 consultations
respectively (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is important to note the
increased ILI rate in urban NSW

For more information: ASPREN

*Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #14 - ending 28 July 2013

Low levels of influenza-like illness activity.

This survey was sent on Monday 29 July 12:19 AM and by Thursday 1 August 9:00 AM we had received 14782
responses (14672 last week) from 9540 people responding for themselves and 5242 household members across
Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.4% of vaccinated participants and 2.7% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.5% of vaccinated
participants and 1.6% of unvaccinated participants.

For participants this week, 8793/14782 (59.5%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2963
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2313 (78.1%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

Australian influenza report 2013?22 June to 05 July 2013 (#02/2013)

Current Report Summary

The onset of the winter influenza season is usually marked by a distinct and sustained rise in influenza activity. Nationally, influenza activity has started to increase. Increases are mainly in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Compared with more recent years, it appears that nationally the 2013 winter influenza season will be starting later.
As at 5 July 2013, there have been 5,097 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported. This fortnight there was an almost 60% increase in the number of notifications reported to NNDSS compared with the last fortnight.
Nationally, whilst influenza A remains the predominant influenza virus type (60%), the proportion of influenza B notifications has continued to increase. During the 2012 season there were very few notifications of influenza A(H1N1) pdm09. So far in 2013 whilst the majority of influenza A reports are unsubtyped, more than 10% of overall notifications have been reported as influenza A(H1N1) pdm09.
The number of influenza associated hospitalisations so far in 2013 remains low.
The WHO has reported that influenza activity in the northern hemisphere temperate zones remains at inter-seasonal levels. Across most regions of tropical Asia, activity has decreased, however in Sri Lanka and Viet Nam influenza activity associated with influenza A has continued to remain relatively high.
The United States has reported further cases of the influenza A(H3N2) variant virus that were associated with fair attendance and contact with swine. The virus detected is the same as the variant viruses detected during the 2012 multi-state outbreak, which was also associated with swine exposure at agricultural fairs.
The WHO has reported on additional retrospectively detected laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China. To date, the WHO has been informed of a total of 133 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 43 deaths. Until the source of infection has been identified and controlled, it is expected that there will be further cases of human infection with the virus.

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

**Ronan Kelly** · August 10, 2013, 07:31 AM

Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

Updated information is indicated with a *

*New South Wales

Week 31 Ending 4 August 2013

Summary:
For the week ending 4 August 2013, influenza activity continued to increase. There is no indication yet that influenza activity has peaked in the current influenza season.
Emergency Department surveillance ? the index of increase for influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was above the seasonal threshold. The current level is consistent with the winter influenza season.
Laboratory surveillance ? the proportion of respiratory samples positive for influenza A and B increased this week (14.6%), predominantly influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. Other respiratory virus activity is also high.
Community illness surveillance ? data collected from eGPs, ASPREN and FluTracking on ILI activity in NSW show small increases. National and International influenza surveillance ? No new human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain from China; otherwise low influenza activity worldwide.

For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert

*Queensland

Week ending July 29th.

There were 93 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 33 were attributed to influenza B virus, 60 were listed as Influenza A unsubtyped, 0 as A/H3N2 and 0 as A/H1N1(pdm09). No hospitalizations occurred (public hospitals only). There have been 1,779 influenza cases year-to-date.

There have been 131 hospital admissions including 14 to ICU.

For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases

South Australia

21 July to 27 July 2013

Seventy-one cases of influenza were reported this week, compared to 93 cases reported in the previous week. Of these cases, 46 were attributed to influenza A virus and 25 were typed as influenza B. There have been 1028 influenza cases notified year-to-date compared with 3,236 cases reported for the same period last year.

Cases comprised of 24 males and 47 females. Of these, 19% were children <10 years of age and 8% were reported in persons aged 65 years or older. Since the beginning of 2013, 18% of notified influenza cases were reported in children <10 years of age.

*

For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch

*Tasmania

Week ending August 4th

Summary
There has been a modest increase in influenza notifications recently in Tasmania. Syndromic surveillance systems are reporting stable levels of influenza like illness (ILI) at levels lower than at this time in 2012. Respiratory pathogen testing suggests that influenza A, and other non-influenza viruses are contributing to ILI in Tasmania.

39 influenza notifications have been received during 2013 up to 4 August. There has been an increase in the number of influenza notifications (14 cases) received during the last week in July and the first week in August.
Influenza types

During 2013 up to 4 August, 32 Influenza A notifications and 7 Influenza B notifications were received. The majority of typed Influenza A have been Influenza A H1N1 (2009 strain).

For more information: DHHS Tasmania

*Victoria

Report No 14 Week ending 04/08/13
Summary
 Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity is slightly higher this week with a presentation rate of 3.2 cases per 1000 patients
seen, remaining under baseline levels. MMDS rates increased to back above baseline levels.
 From the 185 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 4/8/13) four have been positive for
influenza A and 15 for influenza B.
 The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were picornavirus. Of the 75 influenza viruses
detected so far this year twelve were A(H1N1)pdm09, 23 were H3, seven are untyped/ yet to be typed and 33
were influenza B.
 This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported four hospitalisations, two from influenza B and
two from influenza A untyped. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 63 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza,
of which one was a patient with A(H1N1)pdm09, 24 were untyped influenza A patients, 15 were influenza A(H3N2)
and 23 were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 63 hospitalisations three were admitted
to ICU, two were pregnant and 51 had comorbidities.
 Of the 75 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza
year to date from Victoria, four were A(H1N1)pdm09, 35 H3 and 36 influenza B. The majority of strain-typed
influenza B viruses in Victoria in 2013 have been B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like, an antigenic drift variant of the
B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus in the 2013 southern hemisphere vaccine.
 The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
(NNDSS) to date was 7,463, of which 1,487 (19.9%) were from Victoria.

For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

*Western Australia

WEEK ENDING 4TH OF AUGUST 2013
KEY POINTS
INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES
Summary: Influenza activity continues to increase in WA, but indicators remain low for this time of the
year.
? The number of detections of influenza virus doubled this week, with mostly influenza A/H3N2 virus
detected.
? Current indicators suggest we are in the early phase of the 2013 influenza season with similar activity to
recent mild seasons (2010 and 2011).
? Hospital presentations and admissions are low and stable.
? Detections of non-influenza viruses decreased this week.

For more information: WA Virus Watch

*Nationally

For the period to Jan 1- Aug 10, 2013 there were 8,058 confirmed Influenza cases.

The majority of notifications have been in NSW with 2,128, QLD had 2,068, Victoria 1,607, SA 1,192, WA had 751, NT 179, ACT 92 and Tas 41.

For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)

ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.

No. 13, 2013
17th June ? 23rd June 2013

Nationally, ILI notifications decreased over the period with 218 and 80 notifications in
week 25 and 26 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased significantly with
11 and 9 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 25 and 26 respectively, compared to
10 cases per 1000 in weeks 23 and 24 respectively. For the same reporting period in
2012, ILI rates were slightly higher at 10 and 14 cases per 1000 consultations
respectively (see Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is important to note the
increased ILI rate in urban NSW

For more information: ASPREN

*Flu Tracking

Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #15 - ending 4 August 2013

Low levels of influenza-like illness activity.

This survey was sent on Monday 5 August 12:17 AM and by Thursday 8 August 9:00 AM we had received
14716 responses (14786 last week) from 9542 people responding for themselves and 5174 household members
across Australia.

Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.8% of vaccinated participants and 3.0% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.7% of vaccinated
participants and 1.6% of unvaccinated participants.

For participants this week, 8843/14715 (60.1%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 3006
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2349 (78.1%) have received the vaccine.

For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking

*Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:

Australian influenza report 2013?06 to 19 July 2013 (#03/2013)

Current Report Summary

Although overall influenza activity remains relatively low, there has been a steady increase nationally. With most jurisdictions also reporting increases. This is indicative of the onset of the 2013 winter influenza season.

Since the beginning of the year there have been 6,333 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported. This fortnight there was an almost 50% increase in the number of notifications reported to the NNDSS compared with the previous fortnight.

Nationally, whilst influenza A remains the predominant influenza virus type (57%), the proportion of influenza B notifications continues to increase. During the 2012 season there were very few notifications of influenza A(H1N1) pdm09. So far in 2013 whilst the majority of influenza A reports are unsubtyped, more than 10% of overall notifications have been reported as influenza A(H1N1) pdm09.

Over the past few weeks there have been early seasonal increases in influenza associated hospitalisations.

The WHO has reported that influenza activity in the northern hemisphere temperate zones remains at inter-seasonal levels. Across most regions of tropical Asia, activity has decreased, however in India and Viet Nam influenza activity associated with influenza A is relatively high.

The United States has reported further cases of the influenza A(H3N2) variant virus that were associated with fair attendance and contact with swine. The virus detected is the same as the variant viruses detected during the 2012 multi-state outbreak, which was also associated with swine exposure at agricultural fairs.

The WHO has reported on an additional laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China. This is the first new confirmed case since 29 May 2013. To date, the WHO has been informed of a total of 134 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 43 deaths. So far, there is no evidence of sustainable human-to-human transmission.

For more information see Department of Health and Ageing

Announcement

Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013

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