Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: EuroFlu, full page: (LINK). Edited.]
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EuroFlu - Weekly Electronic Bulletin - Week 24 : 11/06/2012-17/06/2012 - 22 June 2012, Issue N? 449
Influenza activity in Europe is at out-of-season levels
Until week 40/2012, the EuroFlu bulletin will be published fortnightly.
Outpatient surveillance for ILI and ARI
All 22 countries reporting data on intensity reported low intensity, with decreasing or stable trends in clinical activity overall. Of the 22 countries reporting on the geographical spread of influenza, 21 reported no activity and 1 reported sporadic activity.
During week 24/2012, sentinel outpatient clinics collected 98 respiratory specimens, of which 1 (1.0%) tested positive for influenza B virus.
Hospital surveillance for SARI
4 countries reported data for hospital-based sentinel surveillance of SARI in weeks 23?24/2012: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation. 40 respiratory specimens were collected from SARI patients, all of which tested negative for influenza.
Virological overview
Specimens from non-sentinel sources yielded 39 influenza detections in week 24/2012: 9 type A unsubtyped and 30 influenza B.
Since week 21/2012, a total of 274 influenza virus detections was reported: 133 were influenza A (49%) and 141 (51%) were influenza B.
Of the influenza A viruses, 80 (60%) were subtyped, with 3 being A(H1N1)pdm09 and 77 A(H3).
Comment
Influenza activity is at out-of-season levels throughout the European Region. Only 1 of 98 (1.0%) samples collected from sentinel sources was positive for influenza virus. From non-sentinel sources, 39 samples were influenza-positive, indicating low influenza activity in the Region.
Further information
The EuroFlu bulletin describes and comments on influenza activity in the 53 countries in the WHO European Region. Further information can be obtained from the WHO/Europe and WHO headquarters web sites.
(?)
Country comments (where available)
Netherlands: 'In an A(H3N2) virus detected in a specimen collected in April 2012, an I222V substitution in the N2 was detected. I222V has previously been associated with slightly reduced susceptibility for neuraminidase inhibitors. However, in combination with E119V it has a synergistic effect on the resistance level against oseltamivir. Furthermore, it has a compensatory role in the replication of A(H3N2) viruses with the E119V substitution in N2. The patient presented with common cold, was vaccinated, not immunocompromised, and not exposed to antivirals, either through therapy or exposure to treated household contacts. Further characterisation of the virus is under way.'
-Influenza activity in Europe is at out-of-season levels
Until week 40/2012, the EuroFlu bulletin will be published fortnightly.
- This issue is based on data reported in week 24/2012 by 32 Member States in the WHO European Region.
- Consultation rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) are now at low levels in all countries in the Region.
- Only 1 of the 98 specimens (1.0%) collected from sentinel sources tested positive for influenza (type B).
Outpatient surveillance for ILI and ARI
All 22 countries reporting data on intensity reported low intensity, with decreasing or stable trends in clinical activity overall. Of the 22 countries reporting on the geographical spread of influenza, 21 reported no activity and 1 reported sporadic activity.
During week 24/2012, sentinel outpatient clinics collected 98 respiratory specimens, of which 1 (1.0%) tested positive for influenza B virus.
Hospital surveillance for SARI
4 countries reported data for hospital-based sentinel surveillance of SARI in weeks 23?24/2012: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation. 40 respiratory specimens were collected from SARI patients, all of which tested negative for influenza.
Virological overview
Specimens from non-sentinel sources yielded 39 influenza detections in week 24/2012: 9 type A unsubtyped and 30 influenza B.
Since week 21/2012, a total of 274 influenza virus detections was reported: 133 were influenza A (49%) and 141 (51%) were influenza B.
Of the influenza A viruses, 80 (60%) were subtyped, with 3 being A(H1N1)pdm09 and 77 A(H3).
Comment
Influenza activity is at out-of-season levels throughout the European Region. Only 1 of 98 (1.0%) samples collected from sentinel sources was positive for influenza virus. From non-sentinel sources, 39 samples were influenza-positive, indicating low influenza activity in the Region.
Further information
The EuroFlu bulletin describes and comments on influenza activity in the 53 countries in the WHO European Region. Further information can be obtained from the WHO/Europe and WHO headquarters web sites.
(?)
Country comments (where available)
Netherlands: 'In an A(H3N2) virus detected in a specimen collected in April 2012, an I222V substitution in the N2 was detected. I222V has previously been associated with slightly reduced susceptibility for neuraminidase inhibitors. However, in combination with E119V it has a synergistic effect on the resistance level against oseltamivir. Furthermore, it has a compensatory role in the replication of A(H3N2) viruses with the E119V substitution in N2. The patient presented with common cold, was vaccinated, not immunocompromised, and not exposed to antivirals, either through therapy or exposure to treated household contacts. Further characterisation of the virus is under way.'
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