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  • ProMed-INFLUENZA (04): EUROPE Current Situation



    Archive Number 20110114.0163
    Published Date 14-JAN-2011
    Subject PRO/EDR> Influenza (04): Europe

    INFLUENZA (04): EUROPE
    **********************
    A ProMED-mail post
    <http://www.promedmail.org>
    ProMED-mail is a program of the
    International Society for Infectious Diseases
    <http://www.isid.org>

    Date: Fri 14 Jan 2011
    Source: WHO Regional Office for Europe, EuroFlu: Weekly Electronic Bulletin
    [edited]
    <http://www.euroflu.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi>


    Current situation -- week 1/2011 [3-9 Jan 2011]
    -----------------------------------------------
    Consultation rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory
    infection (ARI) increased in 20 out of 41 countries that reported on this
    indicator. The age groups affected varied between countries, but in about
    half the countries increases were seen in all age groups. Of the 10
    countries that present a baseline, 6 reported clinical consultation rates
    above the national threshold (France, Ireland, Israel, Luxembourg, the
    Netherlands, and Switzerland). 4 countries reported high influenza
    activity: Denmark, Ireland, Norway, and the United Kingdom (England). Among
    43 countries for which information on geographical spread was available, 14
    were experiencing widespread activity, 5 regional activity, 9 local
    activity, and the remaining 15 no or sporadic activity.

    Virological situation -- week 1/2011 [3-9 Jan 2011]
    ---------------------------------------------------
    This week, pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 and influenza B remain the
    predominant viruses circulating in the Region with relatively few influenza
    A(H3N2) viruses being detected. Pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 dominated in 18
    countries, influenza A and B co-dominated in 5 countries, while influenza B
    was dominant in 4 countries.

    Sentinel physicians collected 2005 respiratory specimens, of which 877 (44
    per cent) were positive for influenza virus: 648 (74 per cent) were
    influenza A, and 229 (26 per cent) were influenza B. Of the influenza A
    viruses, 592 were subtyped: 536 (91 per cent) as pandemic A(H1) and 56 (9
    per cent) as A(H3). In the 23 countries testing 20 or more sentinel
    specimens, influenza positivity ranged from 5 per cent to 68 per cent, with
    a median of 46 per cent (mean: 43 per cent). Influenza positivity was above
    60 per cent in 5 countries: Belgium, Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, and the
    Netherlands. Among specimens tested from non-sentinel sources, 5085 were
    positive for influenza: 3707 (73 per cent) influenza A and 1378 (27 per
    cent) influenza B. Of the influenza A viruses, 2047 were subtyped: 1977 (97
    per cent) as pandemic A(H1) and 70 (3 per cent) as A(H3). Respiratory
    syncytial virus was also reported by some countries.

    Since week 40/2010 [4-10 Oct 2010], 399 influenza viruses have been
    characterized antigenically: 179 were A(H1) pandemic A/California/7/2009
    (H1N1)-like; 162 were B/Brisbane/60/2008-like (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage); 45
    were A(H3) A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like; 12 were B/Florida/4/2006-like
    (B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage); and 1 was B/Bangladesh/3333/2007-like
    (B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage). Based on the genetic characterization of 56 influenza viruses, 41 belonged to the pandemic A/California/7/2009 A(H1N1)
    clade; 5 belonged to the A(H3) clade represented by A/Perth/16/2009; 4
    belonged to the subgroup represented by A/Hong Kong/2121/2010 in the
    A/Victoria/208/2009 A(H3) clade; 4 belonged to the B/Bangladesh/3333/2007
    clade (Yamagata lineage); 1 to the B/Florida/4/2006 clade (Yamagata
    lineage); and 1 to the B/Brisbane/60/2008 clade (Victoria lineage).

    Cumulative virological update -- weeks 40/2010-1/2011 [4 Oct 2010-9 Jan 2011]
    -----------------------------------------------------
    A total of 15 860 influenza virus detections were reported, of which 11 244
    (71 per cent) were influenza A and 4616 (29 per cent) influenza B. Of the
    influenza A viruses, 6539 were subtyped: 6104 (93 per cent) as pandemic
    influenza A(H1), 433 (7 per cent) as influenza A(H3), and 2 (less than 1
    per cent) as influenza A(H1).

    Comment
    -------
    ILI and ARI consultation rates have increased particularly in countries of
    the northern and western part of the European Region. Widespread activity
    has been reported by an increasing number of countries. Influenza activity
    is still low in other countries in the WHO European Region; but, current
    data may be incomplete following holidays in several countries. In week
    1/2011 [3-9 Jan 2011], across the Region as a whole, 44 per cent of
    sentinel samples tested positive for influenza, corroborating the
    widespread influenza activity. The co-circulation of influenza B with the
    pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 virus contrasts with the 2009/2010 season when little
    co-circulation of influenza B was seen.

    --
    communicated by:
    ProMED-mail
    <promed@promedmail.org>

    [The returns from sentinel practices put the current situation in Europe in
    perspective. About half (44 per cent) of respiratory infections could be
    attributed to influenza virus infection, respiratory syncytial virus
    possibly being a significant minor component. Of the influenza positives,
    71 per cent were influenza A-type virus infections and 29 per cent B-type
    influenza virus infections. Of the A-type viruses 93 per cent were similar
    to the pandemic H1N1 strain, less than 1 per cent were similar to the
    previous seasonal H1N1 strain, and 7 per cent were B-type viruses. In
    contrast to the 2009/2010 outbreak, co-circulation of B-type influenza
    virus is a feature of the 2010/1011 outbreak. - Mod.CP]

    [see also:
    Influenza (03): Egypt, France 20110111.0128
    Influenza (02): UK 20110107.0086
    Influenza: Egypt 20110103.0029]

    .................cp/mj/sh

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    ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
    are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
    information, and of any statements or opinions based
    thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
    using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
    and its associated service providers shall not be held
    responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
    damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
    or archived material.
    ************************************************** **********
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    Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>.
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