PHE Weekly National Influenza Report
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal
respiratory illnesses
25 February 2016 ? Week 08 report (up to week 07 data)
Summary
In week 07 2016 (ending 21 February 2016), influenza circulation with mainly A(H1N1)pdm09 continues with indicators starting
to stabilise across surveillance schemes, including the number of respiratory outbreaks, GP ILI consultation rates, the
proportion of laboratory samples positive for influenza and influenza admissions to ICU. Updated guidance on antiviral
prescribing in secondary care when influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 is the dominant circulating strain has been published.
Community influenza surveillance
o During week 07, selected respiratory indicators, including GP influenza-like consultations remained stable, while other
respiratory indicators including upper and lower respiratory tract infections continued to decrease.
o Seventeen new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past 7 days. Two outbreaks were in schools where one
tested positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. Seven outbreaks were from care homes where two tested positive for influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09. Four outbreaks were from hospitals where one tested positive for influenza A(not subtyped) and one tested
positive for a mixed infection with influenza A(not subtyped) and influenza B. The remaining four outbreaks were from other
settings where two tested positive for influenza A(not subtyped and one tested positive for a mixed infection of influenza
A(untyped) and influenza B.
Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o In week 07, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultation rate has decreased but remains above the baseline
threshold in England (17.3 per 100,000). ILI rates have slightly increased or remained similar in Scotland (28.6 per 100,000) and
Wales (12.1 per 100,000) and a decrease was noted in in Northern Ireland (24.5 per 100,000)
o Through the GP In Hours surveillance system, weekly ILI rates have remained stable and within seasonally expected levels in
week 07.
Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o One hundred and thirty-one new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (fifty-five influenza A(H1N1)pdm09,seventyfour
influenza A(unknown subtype) and two influenza A(H3N2)) were reported through the USISS mandatory ICU/HDU
surveillance scheme across the UK (119 NHS Trusts in England) in week 07, a rate of 0.32 per 100,000, compared to 0.31 in
week 06. Ten new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported through this scheme.
o One hundred and twenty-nine new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (one hundred influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, twenty-one
influenza A(unknown subtype), one influenza A(H3N2) and seven influenza B) were reported through the USISS sentinel
hospital network across England (20 NHS Trusts), a rate of 1.68 compared to 1.40 per 100,000 the previous week.
o Since week 40, thirty-seven confirmed influenza admissions have been reported (twenty-nine influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, seven
influenza A(unknown subtype) and one influenza B) from the six Severe Respiratory Failure centres in the UK.
All-cause mortality data
o Up to week 07 2016 in England, excess mortality by date of death has been seen in 15-64 year olds in weeks 52-03 and 05-
07; and in <5 year olds and 5-14 year olds in week 51 with the EuroMoMo algorithm. In the devolved administrations,
significant excess was seen in Scotland (0-4 year olds).
Microbiological surveillance
o Fifty-four samples tested positive for influenza (42 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 6 influenza A(untyped) and 6 influenza B)
through GP sentinel schemes across the UK, with an overall positivity of 33.3%.
o Four hundred and four influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (two hundred and sixty-two
A(H1N1)pdm09, four A(H3), one hundred and one A(not subtyped) and thirty-seven influenza B). A positivity of 22.6% was
seen in week 07, compared to 20.7% in week 06, with the highest positivity in 15-44 year olds (31.8%). This is above the allage
threshold for 2015/16 season of 7.4%.
Vaccination
o Up to week 04 2016 in 98.8% GP practices reporting weekly to Immform, the provisional proportion of people in England who
had received the 2015/16 influenza vaccine in targeted groups was as follows: 45.1% in under 65 years in a clinical risk group,
42.3% in pregnant women, 71.0% in 65+ year olds, 35.4% in all 2 year olds, 37.7% in all 3 year olds and 30.1% in all 4 year
olds.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show 49.5%
were vaccinated by 31 January 2016 from 97.3% of Trusts, compared to 54.6% vaccinated in the previous season by 31
January 2015. The report is available here.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake children of school years 1 and 2 age show the
proportion of children in England who received the 2015/16 live attenuated intranasal vaccine (LAIV) from 1 September 2015
to 31 January 2016 was as follows: 53.6% in children school year 1 age (5-6 years) and 52.1% in children school year 2 age
(6-7 years).
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake in GP patients up to 31 January 2016 has been
published. The report provides uptake at national, area team and CCG level.
International situation
o Globally, increasing levels of influenza activity continued to be reported in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere
with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 as the most detected virus.
...
- In week 07, one hundred and thirty-one new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (55 influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09, 74 influenza A(unknown subtype), 2 influenza A(H3N2)) were reported across the UK (119/156
Trusts in England) through the USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.32 per 100,000,
compared to a rate of 0.31 in the previous week. Ten new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported in week 07
2016. A total of 1,004 admissions (462 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 20 influenza A(H3N2), 486 influenza A (unknown
subtype) and 36 influenza B) and 86 confirmed influenza deaths have been reported since week 40 2015.
...
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal
respiratory illnesses
25 February 2016 ? Week 08 report (up to week 07 data)
Summary
In week 07 2016 (ending 21 February 2016), influenza circulation with mainly A(H1N1)pdm09 continues with indicators starting
to stabilise across surveillance schemes, including the number of respiratory outbreaks, GP ILI consultation rates, the
proportion of laboratory samples positive for influenza and influenza admissions to ICU. Updated guidance on antiviral
prescribing in secondary care when influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 is the dominant circulating strain has been published.
Community influenza surveillance
o During week 07, selected respiratory indicators, including GP influenza-like consultations remained stable, while other
respiratory indicators including upper and lower respiratory tract infections continued to decrease.
o Seventeen new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past 7 days. Two outbreaks were in schools where one
tested positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. Seven outbreaks were from care homes where two tested positive for influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09. Four outbreaks were from hospitals where one tested positive for influenza A(not subtyped) and one tested
positive for a mixed infection with influenza A(not subtyped) and influenza B. The remaining four outbreaks were from other
settings where two tested positive for influenza A(not subtyped and one tested positive for a mixed infection of influenza
A(untyped) and influenza B.
Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o In week 07, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultation rate has decreased but remains above the baseline
threshold in England (17.3 per 100,000). ILI rates have slightly increased or remained similar in Scotland (28.6 per 100,000) and
Wales (12.1 per 100,000) and a decrease was noted in in Northern Ireland (24.5 per 100,000)
o Through the GP In Hours surveillance system, weekly ILI rates have remained stable and within seasonally expected levels in
week 07.
Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o One hundred and thirty-one new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (fifty-five influenza A(H1N1)pdm09,seventyfour
influenza A(unknown subtype) and two influenza A(H3N2)) were reported through the USISS mandatory ICU/HDU
surveillance scheme across the UK (119 NHS Trusts in England) in week 07, a rate of 0.32 per 100,000, compared to 0.31 in
week 06. Ten new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported through this scheme.
o One hundred and twenty-nine new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (one hundred influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, twenty-one
influenza A(unknown subtype), one influenza A(H3N2) and seven influenza B) were reported through the USISS sentinel
hospital network across England (20 NHS Trusts), a rate of 1.68 compared to 1.40 per 100,000 the previous week.
o Since week 40, thirty-seven confirmed influenza admissions have been reported (twenty-nine influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, seven
influenza A(unknown subtype) and one influenza B) from the six Severe Respiratory Failure centres in the UK.
All-cause mortality data
o Up to week 07 2016 in England, excess mortality by date of death has been seen in 15-64 year olds in weeks 52-03 and 05-
07; and in <5 year olds and 5-14 year olds in week 51 with the EuroMoMo algorithm. In the devolved administrations,
significant excess was seen in Scotland (0-4 year olds).
Microbiological surveillance
o Fifty-four samples tested positive for influenza (42 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 6 influenza A(untyped) and 6 influenza B)
through GP sentinel schemes across the UK, with an overall positivity of 33.3%.
o Four hundred and four influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (two hundred and sixty-two
A(H1N1)pdm09, four A(H3), one hundred and one A(not subtyped) and thirty-seven influenza B). A positivity of 22.6% was
seen in week 07, compared to 20.7% in week 06, with the highest positivity in 15-44 year olds (31.8%). This is above the allage
threshold for 2015/16 season of 7.4%.
Vaccination
o Up to week 04 2016 in 98.8% GP practices reporting weekly to Immform, the provisional proportion of people in England who
had received the 2015/16 influenza vaccine in targeted groups was as follows: 45.1% in under 65 years in a clinical risk group,
42.3% in pregnant women, 71.0% in 65+ year olds, 35.4% in all 2 year olds, 37.7% in all 3 year olds and 30.1% in all 4 year
olds.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show 49.5%
were vaccinated by 31 January 2016 from 97.3% of Trusts, compared to 54.6% vaccinated in the previous season by 31
January 2015. The report is available here.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake children of school years 1 and 2 age show the
proportion of children in England who received the 2015/16 live attenuated intranasal vaccine (LAIV) from 1 September 2015
to 31 January 2016 was as follows: 53.6% in children school year 1 age (5-6 years) and 52.1% in children school year 2 age
(6-7 years).
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake in GP patients up to 31 January 2016 has been
published. The report provides uptake at national, area team and CCG level.
International situation
o Globally, increasing levels of influenza activity continued to be reported in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere
with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 as the most detected virus.
...
- In week 07, one hundred and thirty-one new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (55 influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09, 74 influenza A(unknown subtype), 2 influenza A(H3N2)) were reported across the UK (119/156
Trusts in England) through the USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.32 per 100,000,
compared to a rate of 0.31 in the previous week. Ten new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported in week 07
2016. A total of 1,004 admissions (462 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 20 influenza A(H3N2), 486 influenza A (unknown
subtype) and 36 influenza B) and 86 confirmed influenza deaths have been reported since week 40 2015.
...
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