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EUROFLU/EISS: Archive of Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 Weekly Bulletins (as for January 28, 20101)

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  • EUROFLU/EISS: Archive of Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 Weekly Bulletins (as for January 28, 20101)

    EuroFlu - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 52 : 21/12/2009-27/12/2009 - 01 January 2010, Issue N? 338 (edited)
    EuroFlu - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 52 : 21/12/2009-27/12/2009 - 01 January 2010, Issue N? 338

    Ongoing influenza activity with a high intensity in parts of central and southern Europe


    Key points: week 52/2009
    • This report is based on data received from 39 of the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region.
    • Thirty-three per cent of specimens collected from sentinel sources tested positive for influenza virus.
    • The incidence of clinical respiratory illness has decreased over the past three weeks in 16 reporting countries.
    • Influenza transmission remains high in some areas, particularly in the central and southern part of the Region.
    • Out of 12 countries that reported testing at least 20 sentinel specimens for influenza this week, five reported that 30% of specimens or more had tested positive for influenza.
    • Four countries reported high or very high intensity of influenza activity, with six reporting moderate impact on health services.
    • Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was dominant in 27 countries and accounted 100% of influenza A virus subtype detections in sentinel specimens and 97% of detections in non-sentinel specimens.
    • 2555 laboratory confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 deaths have been reported in the Region.


    Current situation: week 52/2009

    Clinical respiratory disease activity has declined over the past three weeks in 16 countries. In many of these countries, the clinical consultation rate in the 5-14 year age group has again dropped below rates observed in the 0-4 year age group. However four of these 16 countries (Poland, Portugal, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) also tested at least 20 sentinel specimens for influenza during week 52/2009 and the median influenza positivity rate was 37% (mean 33%), suggesting that influenza circulation is ongoing despite declining clinical trends.

    The intensity of influenza transmission also remains high in some areas, particularly in the central and southern parts of the Region. Although the increase in clinical consultation rates reported during week 51/2009 in Georgia and Montenegro have not continued, 54% of sentinel specimens collected in Georgia tested positive for influenza during week 52/2009.

    In addition, Greece has reported that 73% of sentinel specimens tested positive for influenza, reflecting the highest positivity rate of any country testing 20 or more sentinel specimens this week.

    Although clinical consultation rates for ARI appear to have reached a second peak in Ukraine, clinical consultation rates remain high, particularly in central and eastern Ukraine.

    Georgia, Poland, the Russian Federation (Urals Region), Ukraine and Serbia reported the intensity of influenza circulation as high.

    Estonia, France, Georgia, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine reported the impact of influenza on health care services to be moderate.

    Reports of respiratory hospitalizations and deaths to EuroFlu indicate that deaths due to acute respiratory infection (ARI) have continued to decline in the Russian Federation during each week since week 48/2009.

    The weekly count of hospitalizations due to severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) reported by Slovakia has also decreased from a peak that was observed in week 50. However, sentinel SARI hospitalizations reported by Ukraine again increased during week 52/2009, largely due to increases reported at sentinel sites in Kyiv and Odessa.

    Weekly reports of SARI hospitalizations in Uzbekistan have remained stable at a level similar to a peak that was reached in week 49/2009.


    Virological update: week 52/2009

    Sentinel physicians collected 942 respiratory specimens this week, of which 312 (33%) were positive for influenza virus.

    Of these virus detections, 312 (100%) were type A (300 pandemic A(H1), 12 not subtyped).

    Of the 13 countries testing 20 or more sentinel specimens this week, influenza-positive rates ranged from 0% (Hungary) to 72% (Greece), with a median of 36% and a mean of 34%.

    Based on the antigenic characterization of 799 influenza viruses reported from week 40/2009 to week 52/2009, 792 were pandemic A(H1N1), A/California/7/2009-like, 3 were A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like, 2 were A(H3) A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like, 1 was A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like, and 1 was B/Brisbane/60/2008-like.

    Genetic characterizations were available for 252 isolates; all belonged to the A/California/7/2009 A(H1N1) pandemic influenza lineage.

    Ten countries have tested isolates of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus for oseltamivir resistance.

    Of the 1312 cases tested, 26 were resistant to oseltamivir. All viruses tested for resistance to zanamivir (346/346) have been found to be zanamivir-sensitive and all viruses tested for resistance to adamantanes (64/64) have been found to be resistant.

    This week the Netherlands reported that one additional patient was retrospectively diagnosed with a monopopulation of H275Y oseltamivir resistant virus. This patient did not receive oseltamivir therapy and the epidemiological investigation is ongoing.


    Comment

    Sentinel surveillance systems throughout the Region suggest that influenza activity remains ongoing, and a high intensity of activity continues in parts of central and southern Europe. The percentage of sentinel specimens testing positive for influenza in the Region was 33% during week 52/2009. While this is lower than the peak of 45% that was reached during week 45/2009, this should be interpreted with caution as clinical consultation rates and the testing of sentinel specimens may be impacted by the holiday season.


    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.
    (...)
    -
    <cite cite="http://www.euroflu.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi">EuroFlu - Bulletin Review</cite>

  • #2
    EuroFlu - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 53 : 28/12/2009-03/01/2010 - 08 January 2010, Issue N? 339 (edited)

    EuroFlu - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 53 : 28/12/2009-03/01/2010 - 08 January 2010, Issue N? 339 (edited)
    EuroFlu - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 53 : 28/12/2009-03/01/2010 - 08 January 2010, Issue N? 339

    Decreasing levels of pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 activity in Europe


    Key points: week 53/2009
    • This report is based on data received from 39 of the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region.
    • The incidence of clinical respiratory illness has decreased over the past 3 weeks in 14 reporting countries and been stable in 14 others.
    • 22% of specimens collected from sentinel sources tested positive for influenza virus.
    • Out of 9 countries testing at least 20 sentinel specimens for influenza this week, 3 countries reported that 30% or more of specimens had tested positive for influenza.
    • Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was dominant in 29 countries and accounted for 99% of influenza A virus subtype detections in sentinel specimens and for 100% in non-sentinel specimens.
    • 24 countries reported 234 deaths related to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 this week, bringing the cumulative total to 2789.


    Current situation: week 53/2009

    Quantitative data on influenza-like illness (ILI)/acute respiratory infection (ARI) consultations reported by 28 countries showed decreased rates in 14 countries over the past 3 weeks and stable rates in the others. For six out of eight countries with established baseline levels, the ILI/ARI consultation rate was below the baseline, and the remaining two countries (Ukraine and Switzerland) reported decreases in consultation rates approaching the baseline. Georgia reported a high intensity of influenza circulation (data not shown), but the consultation rate fell by about 40% over the last two weeks, and nine countries reported a medium intensity. Four countries reported a moderate impact on health care.


    Virological update: week 53/2009

    Sentinel physicians collected 863 respiratory specimens this week, of which 190 (22%) were positive for influenza virus. All were type A (180 pandemic A(H1), 1 influenza A(H3), 9 influenza A not subtyped). Of the 9 countries testing 20 or more sentinel specimens this week, influenza-positive rates ranged from 0% (Azerbaijan) to 48% (Georgia and Germany), with a median of 21% (mean: 23%). A total of 8436 specimens from non-sentinel sources were tested. Of these 1925 (23%) tested positive for influenza; 1922 were influenza A (1734 pandemic A(H1), 1 influenza A(H1), 187 A not subtyped), and 3 were influenza B.

    From week 40 to week 53, a total of 146 106 influenza virus detections were reported. Of these, 145 764 were influenza A and 342 (<1%) were influenza B. Of the influenza A viruses, 132 221 (90%) were subtyped as pandemic influenza A(H1), 842 (<1%) were influenza A(H1), 459 (<1%) were influenza A(H3) and 12 242 (8%) were influenza A not subtyped.

    Based on the antigenic characterization of 842 influenza viruses reported from week 40/2009 to week 53/2009, 839 were pandemic A(H1N1), A/California/7/2009-like, 2 were A(H3) A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like, and 1 was B/Brisbane/60/2008-like.

    Genetic characterizations were available for 255 viruses; 252 belonged to the A/California/7/2009 A(H1N1) pandemic influenza lineage and 3 to the A/Victoria /208/2009 (H3) lineage.

    Eleven countries have tested isolates of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus for oseltamivir susceptibility. Of the 1974 cases tested so far, 40 were resistant. All viruses tested for zanamivir susceptibility (1251/1251) were found to be sensitive and all viruses tested for susceptibility to adamantanes (140/140) were found to be resistant.


    Comment

    Overall, decreasing levels of influenza activity were observed in the European Region, with most countries reporting low levels. The 22% influenza positivity of sentinel specimens in week 53/2009 is half the peak rate (45%) reported in week 45/2009. The data should be interpreted with caution, however, as the seasonal holidays may have affected clinical consultation rates and the testing of sentinel specimens. The pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus remains the dominant virus in Europe. Only sporadic detections have been reported for seasonal influenza virus types and subtypes since week 40/2009, a period in which they would normally be detected.


    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.


    Note

    The 2009?2010 season includes a week 53, which is unusual. The maps, text, tables and pie charts in the weekly electronic bulletin include data for week 53, but, for technical reasons, the graphs do not.
    (...)
    -
    <cite cite="http://www.euroflu.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi">EuroFlu - Bulletin Review</cite>

    Comment


    • #3
      EISS - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 1 : 04/01/2010-10/01/2010 - 15 January 2010, Issue N? 340 (edited)

      EISS - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 1 : 04/01/2010-10/01/2010 - 15 January 2010, Issue N? 340 (edited)
      EISS - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 1 : 04/01/2010-10/01/2010 - 15 January 2010, Issue N? 340

      Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza activity in Europe continues to decrease


      Key points: week 01/2010
      • This report is based on data received from 42 of the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region.
      • Twenty per cent of specimens collected from sentinel sources tested positive for influenza virus.
      • The incidence of clinical respiratory illness has decreased over the past three weeks in 23 reporting countries, and most countries reported a low intensity of influenza activity.
      • Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was dominant in 32 countries and accounted for 98% of influenza A virus subtype detections in sentinel specimens and 99% of detections in non-sentinel specimens.
      • 3100 deaths associated with laboratory-confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 were reported in the Region.


      Current situation: week 01/2010

      Clinical respiratory disease activity has declined over the past three weeks in 23 countries. In most reporting countries, the dominant age group among clinical consultations was those aged 0?4 years. Six countries testing more than 20 specimens reported over 20% of specimens positive for influenza, and two of these continued to report positivity rates over 50% (Switzerland: 51%, and Romania: 52%), confirming continuing circulation of influenza viruses. Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Romania reported the impact of influenza on health care services to be moderate, while 23 countries reported low impact.

      Ongoing reporting of respiratory hospitalizations and deaths from Croatia, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation and Slovakia indicates that the incidence of severe cases peaked in weeks 47?50/2009. Data from Romania and Ukraine show that hospitalizations due to severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) peaked in week 52, although sentinel surveillance suggests that influenza activity is continuing in Ukraine. SARI hospitalizations reported by Uzbekistan show that activity is higher than that observed in previous weeks. In the period 7 to 13 January, there were 311 deaths associated with laboratory-confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in 16 countries in Europe, raising the total from 2789 to 3100.


      Virological update: week 01/2010

      Sentinel physicians collected 896 respiratory specimens, of which 183 (20%) were positive for influenza virus. All were type A: 179 were subtyped as pandemic A(H1), one as H3N2 and three were not subtyped. Of the 14 countries testing 20 or more sentinel specimens this week, influenza-positivity rates ranged from 0% to 52% (median 22%, mean 29%). A total of 1492 specimens from non-sentinel sources were influenza positive: 1488 type A (1301 pandemic A(H1), seven A(H1) three A(H3), 177 not subtyped) and four influenza B.

      From week 40/2009 to week 01/2010, a total of 149 383 influenza virus detections were reported: 149 024 were influenza A (99.8%) and 359 (0.2%) were influenza B. Of the influenza A viruses, 136 431 (91.3%) were subtyped, with 134 895 (98.9%) being pandemic A(H1), 989 (0.7%) A(H1) and 547 (0.4%) A(H3). Based on the antigenic characterization of 1048 influenza viruses reported from week 40/2009 to week 01/2010, 1044 were pandemic A(H1N1), A/California/7/2009-like, three were A(H3) A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like and one was B/Brisbane/60/2008-like. Genetic characterizations were available for 284 isolates; 278 belonged to the A/California/7/2009 A(H1N1) pandemic group, one belonged to the A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2) group, four to the A/Victoria/208/2009 (H3N2) group and one to the B/England/393/2008 (Victoria lineage) group.

      Eleven countries have tested isolates of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus for sensitivity to oseltamivir. Of the 1974 cases tested, 40 were resistant to oseltamivir: 1254 were also tested for zanamivir resistance and all were sensitive; the 140 tested for amantadane sensitivity were all resistant.


      Comment

      Surveillance throughout the Region suggests that influenza activity continues to decline. Nevertheless, the percentage of sentinel specimens testing positive for influenza in the Region was 20% during week 01/2010, suggesting that influenza circulation continues at a low level. Continued surveillance remains essential to detect other viruses, patterns of resistance and any possible further pandemic waves.


      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.

      (...)
      -
      <cite cite="http://www.euroflu.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi">EuroFlu - Bulletin Review</cite>

      Comment


      • #4
        EISS - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 2 : 11/01/2010-17/01/2010 - 22 January 2010, Issue N? 341 (edited)

        EISS - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 2 : 11/01/2010-17/01/2010 - 22 January 2010, Issue N? 341 (edited)
        EISS - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 2 : 11/01/2010-17/01/2010 - 22 January 2010, Issue N? 341

        Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Europe: returning to low levels of influenza activity
        • This report is based on data received from 43 of the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region.
        • 16% of specimens collected from sentinel sources tested positive for influenza virus.
        • The incidence of clinical respiratory illness has decreased over the past three weeks in 11 reporting countries, and most countries reported a low intensity of influenza activity.
        • Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was dominant in 32 countries and accounted for 100% of influenza A virus subtype detections in sentinel specimens and 98% of detections in non-sentinel specimens.
        • 3430 deaths associated with laboratory-confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 have been reported in the Region.


        Current situation: week 02/2010

        Clinical respiratory disease activity has declined over the past three weeks in 11 countries. For all six countries with established baseline levels, the influenza-like illness (ILI)/acute respiratory infection (ARI) consultation rate was below the baseline.

        Of 13 countries testing more than 20 specimens, only 3 (Germany, Romania and Switzerland) reported over 20% of specimens positive for influenza. The dominant type remains the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in 32 countries.

        Five countries (Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Israel and the Republic of Moldova) reported widespread activity of the influenza virus, but low or medium influenza intensity.

        Albania, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, the Republic of Moldova and Romania reported the impact of influenza on health care services to be moderate, while 21 countries reported low impact.

        Reports of respiratory hospitalizations and deaths to WHO/Europe influenza surveillance (EuroFlu) generally indicate a declining trend. The number of hospitalizations for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is decreasing in Albania, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Slovakia and Ukraine.

        Romania and Uzbekistan reported more variable numbers of SARI hospitalizations , with a peak for Uzbekistan in the previous week.

        In the period 14?21 January, there were 330 deaths associated with laboratory-confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in 22 countries in Europe, raising the total from 3100 to 3430.


        Virological update: week 02/2010

        Sentinel physicians collected 1070 respiratory specimens, of which 174 (16%) were positive for influenza virus. A total of 173 were type A (167 were subtyped as pandemic A(H1), six were not subtyped) and 1 was influenza B. Of the 13 countries testing 20 or more sentinel specimens this week, influenza-positivity rates ranged from 5% in Albania to 32% Romania (median 15.5%, mean 15.7%).

        A total of 1425 specimens from non-sentinel sources were influenza positive: 1411 type A (1225 pandemic A(H1), 21 A(H1), 6 A(H3), 159 not subtyped) and 14 influenza B.

        From week 40/2009 to week 02/2010, a total of 151 549 influenza virus detections were reported: 151 175 were influenza A (99.8%) and 374 (0.2%) were influenza B. Of the influenza A viruses, 138 430 (91.6%) were subtyped, with 137 078 (99%) being pandemic A(H1), 877 (0.6%) A(H1) and 475 (0.3%) A(H3).

        Based on the antigenic characterization of 1137 influenza viruses reported from week 40/2009 to week 02/2010, 1133 were A(H1) pandemic A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like, 2 were A(H3) A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like, 1 was A(H3) A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like and 1 was B/Brisbane/60/2008-like.

        Genetic characterizations were available for 419 isolates; 413 belonged to the A/California/7/2009 A(H1N1) pandemic group, 1 belonged to the A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2) group, 2 to the A/Victoria/208/2009 (H3N2) group and 1 to the B/England/393/2008 (Victoria lineage) group.

        Eleven countries have tested isolates of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus for sensitivity to oseltamivir. Of the 1974 cases tested, 40 were resistant to oseltamivir: 1254 were also tested for zanamivir resistance and all were sensitive; the 140 tested for adamantane sensitivity were all resistant.


        Comment

        Surveillance throughout the Region suggests that influenza activity continues to decline. The percentage positive has decreased slightly to 16%, after being stable at about 20% in recent weeks. Nevertheless, with five countries reporting a moderate impact of influenza on the health services, influenza circulation continues in some countries. Continued surveillance remains essential to detect other viruses, patterns of resistance and any possible further pandemic waves.


        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.
        (...)
        -
        <cite cite="http://www.euroflu.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi">EuroFlu - Bulletin Review</cite>

        Comment


        • #5
          EUROFLU/EISS: Archive of Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 Weekly Bulletins (as for January 28, 20101)

          This thread contains an archive of the EuroFlu/EISS weekly influenza bulletins as for January 28, 2010.

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