PHE Weekly National Influenza Report
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal respiratory
illnesses
19 February 2015 ? Week 8 report (up to week 7 data)
Summary
In week 7 2015 (ending 15 February), influenza continues to circulate with activity levels generally similar to last week. Significant excess all-cause mortality has been seen mainly in 65+ year olds, with suggestion impact is now decreasing. The Department of Health alert issued on the prescription of antiviral medicines by GPs is still active.
Community influenza surveillance
o In week 7 the majority of syndromic indicators for respiratory symptoms were stable.
o 27 new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past seven days, 25 in care homes (seven flu A(untyped), four flu A(H3) and the rest not tested/results not available yet), one in a school (not tested) and one in another setting (Flu B).
Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o The weekly ILI consultation rate through the GP In Hours Syndromic Surveillance system increased in week 7.
o In week 7, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultations increased in Scotland (45.4 per 100,000) , Northern Ireland (58.3 per 100,000) and Wales (15.6 per 100,000)
Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o 48 new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (24 A unknown subtype, 13 A(H3N2), three influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and eight B) were reported through the USISS mandatory ICU/HDU surveillance scheme across the UK (122 Trusts in England) in week 7, a rate of 0.08 compared to 0.06 per 100,000 the previous week.
o 44 new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (17 influenza A(H3N2), 14 influenza B, nine A unknown subtype and four influenza A(H1N1)pdm09) were reported through the USISS sentinel hospital network across England (23 Trusts), a rate of 0.52 compared to 0.65 per 100,000 the previous week.
All-cause mortality data
o In week 7 2015, significant excess all-cause mortality by week of death was seen through the EuroMOMO algorithm in England in 65+ year olds. In the devolved administrations in week 7, significant excess all-cause mortality was also seen in Northern Ireland. Since week 40 2014, significant excess mortality has been seen in England from week 50 2014 onwards, coinciding with circulating influenza and cold snaps, with suggestions impact is now decreasing.
Microbiological surveillance
o 69 samples were positive for influenza through the UK GP sentinel schemes (40 A(H3), five A(H1N1)pdm09, 11 A(not subtyped) and 13 B, positivity of 40.1% compared to 31.3% the previous week (updated)).
o In week 7 2015,159 influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (107 A(H3), 16 A(not subtyped), 13 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 23 B, a positivity of 15.1% compared to 12.4% the previous week, with the highest levels seen in 65+ year olds (21.4%).
o Characterisation of influenza A(H3N2) viruses by the PHE Respiratory Virus Unit indicates that a proportion of the viruses circulating this season are distinguishable from the Northern Hemisphere 2014/15 vaccine strain and are similar to the H3N2 virus selected for the 2015 Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.
Vaccination
o Up to week 4 2015 in 92% of GP practices reporting weekly to Immform, the provisional proportion of people in England who had received the 2014/15 influenza vaccine in targeted groups was as follows: 72.5% in 65+ year olds, 50.1% in under 65 years in a clinical risk group, 43.9% in pregnant women, 38.3% in all 2 year olds, 41.1% in all 3 year olds and 32.6% in all 4 year olds. This is the last week of reporting for weekly uptake data.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show 54.6% were vaccinated by 31 January 2015 from 100.0% of Trusts.
o PHE have published their mid-season flu vaccine effectiveness estimate.
International situation
o Globally influenza activity remained high in the northern hemisphere with influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominating. In the European Region, the influenza season is well underway, particularly in western and central European countries.
...
-In week 7, 48 new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (24 A unknown subtype, 13 A(H3N2), three
influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and eight B) were reported across the UK (122/156 Trusts in England) through the
USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 compared to 0.06 per 100,000 the
previous week. Six new confirmed influenza deaths were reported in week 7 2015. A total of 893 admissions
(619 A unknown subtype, 192 A(H3N2), 48 A(H1N1)pdm09) and 34 B) and 89 confirmed influenza deaths have
been reported since week 40 2014.
...
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal respiratory
illnesses
19 February 2015 ? Week 8 report (up to week 7 data)
Summary
In week 7 2015 (ending 15 February), influenza continues to circulate with activity levels generally similar to last week. Significant excess all-cause mortality has been seen mainly in 65+ year olds, with suggestion impact is now decreasing. The Department of Health alert issued on the prescription of antiviral medicines by GPs is still active.
Community influenza surveillance
o In week 7 the majority of syndromic indicators for respiratory symptoms were stable.
o 27 new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past seven days, 25 in care homes (seven flu A(untyped), four flu A(H3) and the rest not tested/results not available yet), one in a school (not tested) and one in another setting (Flu B).
Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o The weekly ILI consultation rate through the GP In Hours Syndromic Surveillance system increased in week 7.
o In week 7, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultations increased in Scotland (45.4 per 100,000) , Northern Ireland (58.3 per 100,000) and Wales (15.6 per 100,000)
Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o 48 new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (24 A unknown subtype, 13 A(H3N2), three influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and eight B) were reported through the USISS mandatory ICU/HDU surveillance scheme across the UK (122 Trusts in England) in week 7, a rate of 0.08 compared to 0.06 per 100,000 the previous week.
o 44 new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (17 influenza A(H3N2), 14 influenza B, nine A unknown subtype and four influenza A(H1N1)pdm09) were reported through the USISS sentinel hospital network across England (23 Trusts), a rate of 0.52 compared to 0.65 per 100,000 the previous week.
All-cause mortality data
o In week 7 2015, significant excess all-cause mortality by week of death was seen through the EuroMOMO algorithm in England in 65+ year olds. In the devolved administrations in week 7, significant excess all-cause mortality was also seen in Northern Ireland. Since week 40 2014, significant excess mortality has been seen in England from week 50 2014 onwards, coinciding with circulating influenza and cold snaps, with suggestions impact is now decreasing.
Microbiological surveillance
o 69 samples were positive for influenza through the UK GP sentinel schemes (40 A(H3), five A(H1N1)pdm09, 11 A(not subtyped) and 13 B, positivity of 40.1% compared to 31.3% the previous week (updated)).
o In week 7 2015,159 influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (107 A(H3), 16 A(not subtyped), 13 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 23 B, a positivity of 15.1% compared to 12.4% the previous week, with the highest levels seen in 65+ year olds (21.4%).
o Characterisation of influenza A(H3N2) viruses by the PHE Respiratory Virus Unit indicates that a proportion of the viruses circulating this season are distinguishable from the Northern Hemisphere 2014/15 vaccine strain and are similar to the H3N2 virus selected for the 2015 Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.
Vaccination
o Up to week 4 2015 in 92% of GP practices reporting weekly to Immform, the provisional proportion of people in England who had received the 2014/15 influenza vaccine in targeted groups was as follows: 72.5% in 65+ year olds, 50.1% in under 65 years in a clinical risk group, 43.9% in pregnant women, 38.3% in all 2 year olds, 41.1% in all 3 year olds and 32.6% in all 4 year olds. This is the last week of reporting for weekly uptake data.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show 54.6% were vaccinated by 31 January 2015 from 100.0% of Trusts.
o PHE have published their mid-season flu vaccine effectiveness estimate.
International situation
o Globally influenza activity remained high in the northern hemisphere with influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominating. In the European Region, the influenza season is well underway, particularly in western and central European countries.
...
-In week 7, 48 new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (24 A unknown subtype, 13 A(H3N2), three
influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and eight B) were reported across the UK (122/156 Trusts in England) through the
USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 compared to 0.06 per 100,000 the
previous week. Six new confirmed influenza deaths were reported in week 7 2015. A total of 893 admissions
(619 A unknown subtype, 192 A(H3N2), 48 A(H1N1)pdm09) and 34 B) and 89 confirmed influenza deaths have
been reported since week 40 2014.
...
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