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Updated information is indicated with a *
*New South Wales
NSW Health Influenza Surveillance Report
Week 31: 27 July to 2 August 2015
Summary:
The influenza season is continuing with influenza B strains predominating.
The impact on public hospitals is currently moderate overall but with higher levels of
activity in some districts.
Influenza activity is expected to continue to increase in coming weeks. Influenza seasons
typically last from 8 to 17 weeks.
On current trends, influenza activity is likely to peak in late August.
In this reporting week:
Hospital surveillance ? presentations to NSW emergency departments for influenza-like illness
(ILI) increased and remain above the flu season threshold. Bronchiolitis increased this week and
remain high.
Laboratory surveillance ? the proportion of respiratory samples positive for influenza was
moderate (21.9%) and continues to increase. Influenza B viruses continue to predominate, and up
to one third are of the B/Victoria lineage which are not included in the trivalent seasonal vaccines.
Community surveillance ? influenza notifications across the majority of LHDs are increasing. Data
collected from ASPREN and FluTracking show low but increasing ILI activity as expected for this
time of year. There was one report of an influenza outbreak in an institution.
National and international influenza surveillance ? Across Australia influenza activity is increasing
with the exception of the Northern Territory. Influenza B has been the dominant influenza virus
type, comprising two thirds of all notifications.
For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases
*Queensland
For Period 1 January - 2 August 2015
There were 1,292 notifications reported this week. Of these cases, 999 were attributed to influenza B virus. Of the 293 Influenza A samples, 23 were identified as A/H3N2, 2 as A/H1N1pdm09, 268 had subtype not available There were 42 hospital admissions including 1 to ICU.
YTD there were 7,519 notifications reported. Of these cases, 4,251 were attributed to influenza B virus. Of the 3,268 Influenza A samples, 100 were identified as A(H1N1)pdm09 and 711 as A/H3N2.
There have been 465 hospital admissions including 42 to ICU.
For more information: QLD Health
*South Australia
26 July to 1 August 2015
Five hundred and ninety-eight cases of influenza were reported this week. Of these, 202 were
characterised as influenza A and 396 were characterised as influenza B.
Cases comprised of 283 males and 315 females, with a median age of 29 years. One hundred and
sixty (27%) notifications were for children aged less than 10 years and 78 (13%) notifications for
persons aged 65 years or greater. Year-to-date there have been 4,787 cases of influenza, compared
to 1,733 cases reported for the same period last year.
The influenza chart shows that influenza activity in South Australia is increasing.
For more information: SA Health
Tasmania
This report describes flu activity in Tasmania up to Sunday 28 June 2015.
Available data over this period indicate:
Increased flu in the South of the State indicated that the 2015 winter flu season has started
Flu notifications and the amount of testing increased during June.
Tasmanian FluTracking participants increasingly reported Influenza-like Illness (ILI) during June.
Influenza A virus is responsible for the majority of recent influenza infections.
Flu Notifications
Tasmanian laboratories are required to notify the Director of Public Health of evidence of influenza infection (flu)
in specimens collected from patients. These specimens are usually nose or throat swabs, less often a blood
sample. The best test for flu involves PCR1 to detect influenza virus RNA present in a nose or throat swab.
Since the last fluTAS Report 61 notifications of laboratory-diagnosed flu in Tasmanian residents have been notified
to the Director of Public Health. A total of 160 notifications of flu have been notified since the start of 2015.
Notifications of flu increased during June indicating the commencement of the winter flu season (see Figure 1). Of
the 61 notifications since the last fluTAS Report, 41 were during the fortnight ending Sunday 28 June. This
increase in flu has been limited to the south of the State
For more information: DHHS Tasmania
*Victoria
Report No 14 Week ending 02/08/15
Summary
Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity remained above baseline levels (4.0) this week with 7.6 cases per 1000 patients
seen, compared to 5.2 in the previous week.
This week we received 24 surveillance swabs of which 16 (67%) were positive for influenza. From the 269 swabs
received from surveillance GPs this season (27/4/15 ? 2/8/15) 76 (28%) have been positive for influenza, 4
A(untyped), 23 A(H3N2) and 49 influenza B.
The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were influenza A and influenza B. Of the 144
influenza viruses detected so far this year 6 were A(H1N1)pdm09, 69 were A(H3N2), 7 A(untyped) and 62 were
influenza B.
Since 13/4/2015 FluCAN have reported 197 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which 87 were untyped
influenza A patients, 1 A(H1N1)pdm09 and 109 were influenza B, from the 4 Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the
197, 6 have been in ICU/HDU, one has been pregnant and 138 have had medical comorbidities.
Of the 64 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza
year to date from Victoria, 8 were A(H1N1)pdm09, 20 A(H3N2) and 36 influenza B.
The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
(NNDSS) year to date was 26,633, of which 4,397 (17%) were from Victoria.
For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
Western Australia
WEEK ENDING 26TH JULY 2015
KEY POINTS
INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES (ILI)
Summary: Taken together, direct and indirect indicators suggest that influenza virus activity may have
now peaked, earlier than in recent seasons. Non-influenza virus activity also declined this week.
ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) decreased this week and presentations
to sentinel emergency departments (EDs) were steady.
Influenza virus detections, notifications and percent positivity appear to have reached a peak.
Influenza B (68%) and influenza A/H3N2 (29%) viruses remaining the dominantly detected
subtypes. The influenza B strains currently circulating are around 65% Yamagata lineage,
matching the trivalent influenza vaccine strain.
Hospitalisations with confirmed influenza decreased this week, but remain over 10 cases per
1000 admissions. Over 70% of influenza admissions are due to influenza B virus, reflecting
overall detections in the community.
Non-influenza respiratory virus activity decreased this week, primarily due to a drop in
respiratory syncytial virus detections.
For more information: WA Dept.of Health
*Nationally
For the period to Jan 1- Aug 8th, 2015 there were 28,962 confirmed Influenza cases.
The largest number of notifications have been in QLD with 8,637 , NSW had 6,324, SA 5,422, VIC 4,909, WA had 2,681, ACT 546, TAS 320 and NT 123.
For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)
No. 14, 2015
29th June - 12th July 2015
SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE
REPORTING
Reports were received from 274 GPs from 8
states and territories during the reporting
period. During weeks 27 and 28 a total of
17,884 and 17,337 consultations were made,
respectively.
INFLUENZA-LIKE-ILLNESS (ILI)
Nationally, ILI notifications increased over the period with 193
and 184 notifications in weeks 27 and 28 respectively. ILI
rates reported in this period increased with 16 and 15 cases
per 1000 consultations in weeks 27 and 28 respectively,
compared to 10 and 12 cases per 1000 consultations in
weeks 25 and 26 respectively. For the same reporting period
in 2014, ILI rates were lower at 10 cases per 1000
consultations (see Figure 5). On a state-by-state basis, it is
important to note the increased ILI rate in Urban SA .
For more information: ASPREN
*Flu Tracking
Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week ending 02 August 2015
Low levels of influenza-like illness activity
This survey was sent on Monday, 03 August 2015 at 01:13 AM and by 09:00 AM, Thursday 06 August we had
received 21194 responses (21333 last week) from 12995 people responding for themselves and 8199 household
members across Australia.
Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by 2.8% of
vaccinated participants and 3.9% of unvaccinated
participants. Fever, cough and absence from normal duties
was reported by 1.9% of vaccinated participants and 2.6%
of unvaccinated participants
For participants this week, 13072/21194 (61.7 %) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 4353
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 3508 (80.6%) have received the vaccine.
For more information: Flu Tracking
Australian influenza report 2015 - Current report:
Week ending 17 July 2015
SUMMARY
Most surveillance systems indicate that the influenza season is well underway. It is not an unusual
influenza season thus far. (Figure 1).
All States and Territories have shown increases in influenza activity in recent weeks with the exception of
the Northern Territory (Figure 2).
The seasonal increase in influenza-like illness (ILI), detected through the sentinel GP ILI surveillance
system, appear to have eased (Figure 4). Non-influenza respiratory viruses continue to be the major driver
of ILI in the community.
In the last fortnight, influenza B has been the dominant influenza type, comprising two thirds of all
notifications. (Figure 3).
Hospitalisations with confirmed influenza have increased in recent weeks, and case counts are similar to
numbers seen in 2012 and 2014, and greater than those reported in 2011 and 2013. The proportion of
adult patients admitted to ICU is similar to those reported in previous years.
Over 400 clinical isolates have been further characterised for similarity with the vaccine components. The
influenza A viruses appear to be well matched. Approximately 80% of the influenza B viruses characterised
are a match to the trivalent vaccine strain with the remaining influenza B viruses matching the additional
strain in the quadrivalent vaccine.
For more information: Department of Health
*New South Wales
NSW Health Influenza Surveillance Report
Week 31: 27 July to 2 August 2015
Summary:
The influenza season is continuing with influenza B strains predominating.
The impact on public hospitals is currently moderate overall but with higher levels of
activity in some districts.
Influenza activity is expected to continue to increase in coming weeks. Influenza seasons
typically last from 8 to 17 weeks.
On current trends, influenza activity is likely to peak in late August.
In this reporting week:
Hospital surveillance ? presentations to NSW emergency departments for influenza-like illness
(ILI) increased and remain above the flu season threshold. Bronchiolitis increased this week and
remain high.
Laboratory surveillance ? the proportion of respiratory samples positive for influenza was
moderate (21.9%) and continues to increase. Influenza B viruses continue to predominate, and up
to one third are of the B/Victoria lineage which are not included in the trivalent seasonal vaccines.
Community surveillance ? influenza notifications across the majority of LHDs are increasing. Data
collected from ASPREN and FluTracking show low but increasing ILI activity as expected for this
time of year. There was one report of an influenza outbreak in an institution.
National and international influenza surveillance ? Across Australia influenza activity is increasing
with the exception of the Northern Territory. Influenza B has been the dominant influenza virus
type, comprising two thirds of all notifications.
For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases
*Queensland
For Period 1 January - 2 August 2015
There were 1,292 notifications reported this week. Of these cases, 999 were attributed to influenza B virus. Of the 293 Influenza A samples, 23 were identified as A/H3N2, 2 as A/H1N1pdm09, 268 had subtype not available There were 42 hospital admissions including 1 to ICU.
YTD there were 7,519 notifications reported. Of these cases, 4,251 were attributed to influenza B virus. Of the 3,268 Influenza A samples, 100 were identified as A(H1N1)pdm09 and 711 as A/H3N2.
There have been 465 hospital admissions including 42 to ICU.
For more information: QLD Health
*South Australia
26 July to 1 August 2015
Five hundred and ninety-eight cases of influenza were reported this week. Of these, 202 were
characterised as influenza A and 396 were characterised as influenza B.
Cases comprised of 283 males and 315 females, with a median age of 29 years. One hundred and
sixty (27%) notifications were for children aged less than 10 years and 78 (13%) notifications for
persons aged 65 years or greater. Year-to-date there have been 4,787 cases of influenza, compared
to 1,733 cases reported for the same period last year.
The influenza chart shows that influenza activity in South Australia is increasing.
For more information: SA Health
Tasmania
This report describes flu activity in Tasmania up to Sunday 28 June 2015.
Available data over this period indicate:
Increased flu in the South of the State indicated that the 2015 winter flu season has started
Flu notifications and the amount of testing increased during June.
Tasmanian FluTracking participants increasingly reported Influenza-like Illness (ILI) during June.
Influenza A virus is responsible for the majority of recent influenza infections.
Flu Notifications
Tasmanian laboratories are required to notify the Director of Public Health of evidence of influenza infection (flu)
in specimens collected from patients. These specimens are usually nose or throat swabs, less often a blood
sample. The best test for flu involves PCR1 to detect influenza virus RNA present in a nose or throat swab.
Since the last fluTAS Report 61 notifications of laboratory-diagnosed flu in Tasmanian residents have been notified
to the Director of Public Health. A total of 160 notifications of flu have been notified since the start of 2015.
Notifications of flu increased during June indicating the commencement of the winter flu season (see Figure 1). Of
the 61 notifications since the last fluTAS Report, 41 were during the fortnight ending Sunday 28 June. This
increase in flu has been limited to the south of the State
For more information: DHHS Tasmania
*Victoria
Report No 14 Week ending 02/08/15
Summary
Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity remained above baseline levels (4.0) this week with 7.6 cases per 1000 patients
seen, compared to 5.2 in the previous week.
This week we received 24 surveillance swabs of which 16 (67%) were positive for influenza. From the 269 swabs
received from surveillance GPs this season (27/4/15 ? 2/8/15) 76 (28%) have been positive for influenza, 4
A(untyped), 23 A(H3N2) and 49 influenza B.
The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were influenza A and influenza B. Of the 144
influenza viruses detected so far this year 6 were A(H1N1)pdm09, 69 were A(H3N2), 7 A(untyped) and 62 were
influenza B.
Since 13/4/2015 FluCAN have reported 197 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which 87 were untyped
influenza A patients, 1 A(H1N1)pdm09 and 109 were influenza B, from the 4 Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the
197, 6 have been in ICU/HDU, one has been pregnant and 138 have had medical comorbidities.
Of the 64 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza
year to date from Victoria, 8 were A(H1N1)pdm09, 20 A(H3N2) and 36 influenza B.
The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
(NNDSS) year to date was 26,633, of which 4,397 (17%) were from Victoria.
For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
Western Australia
WEEK ENDING 26TH JULY 2015
KEY POINTS
INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES (ILI)
Summary: Taken together, direct and indirect indicators suggest that influenza virus activity may have
now peaked, earlier than in recent seasons. Non-influenza virus activity also declined this week.
ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) decreased this week and presentations
to sentinel emergency departments (EDs) were steady.
Influenza virus detections, notifications and percent positivity appear to have reached a peak.
Influenza B (68%) and influenza A/H3N2 (29%) viruses remaining the dominantly detected
subtypes. The influenza B strains currently circulating are around 65% Yamagata lineage,
matching the trivalent influenza vaccine strain.
Hospitalisations with confirmed influenza decreased this week, but remain over 10 cases per
1000 admissions. Over 70% of influenza admissions are due to influenza B virus, reflecting
overall detections in the community.
Non-influenza respiratory virus activity decreased this week, primarily due to a drop in
respiratory syncytial virus detections.
For more information: WA Dept.of Health
*Nationally
For the period to Jan 1- Aug 8th, 2015 there were 28,962 confirmed Influenza cases.
The largest number of notifications have been in QLD with 8,637 , NSW had 6,324, SA 5,422, VIC 4,909, WA had 2,681, ACT 546, TAS 320 and NT 123.
For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)
No. 14, 2015
29th June - 12th July 2015
SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE
REPORTING
Reports were received from 274 GPs from 8
states and territories during the reporting
period. During weeks 27 and 28 a total of
17,884 and 17,337 consultations were made,
respectively.
INFLUENZA-LIKE-ILLNESS (ILI)
Nationally, ILI notifications increased over the period with 193
and 184 notifications in weeks 27 and 28 respectively. ILI
rates reported in this period increased with 16 and 15 cases
per 1000 consultations in weeks 27 and 28 respectively,
compared to 10 and 12 cases per 1000 consultations in
weeks 25 and 26 respectively. For the same reporting period
in 2014, ILI rates were lower at 10 cases per 1000
consultations (see Figure 5). On a state-by-state basis, it is
important to note the increased ILI rate in Urban SA .
For more information: ASPREN
*Flu Tracking
Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week ending 02 August 2015
Low levels of influenza-like illness activity
This survey was sent on Monday, 03 August 2015 at 01:13 AM and by 09:00 AM, Thursday 06 August we had
received 21194 responses (21333 last week) from 12995 people responding for themselves and 8199 household
members across Australia.
Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by 2.8% of
vaccinated participants and 3.9% of unvaccinated
participants. Fever, cough and absence from normal duties
was reported by 1.9% of vaccinated participants and 2.6%
of unvaccinated participants
For participants this week, 13072/21194 (61.7 %) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 4353
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 3508 (80.6%) have received the vaccine.
For more information: Flu Tracking
Australian influenza report 2015 - Current report:
Week ending 17 July 2015
SUMMARY
Most surveillance systems indicate that the influenza season is well underway. It is not an unusual
influenza season thus far. (Figure 1).
All States and Territories have shown increases in influenza activity in recent weeks with the exception of
the Northern Territory (Figure 2).
The seasonal increase in influenza-like illness (ILI), detected through the sentinel GP ILI surveillance
system, appear to have eased (Figure 4). Non-influenza respiratory viruses continue to be the major driver
of ILI in the community.
In the last fortnight, influenza B has been the dominant influenza type, comprising two thirds of all
notifications. (Figure 3).
Hospitalisations with confirmed influenza have increased in recent weeks, and case counts are similar to
numbers seen in 2012 and 2014, and greater than those reported in 2011 and 2013. The proportion of
adult patients admitted to ICU is similar to those reported in previous years.
Over 400 clinical isolates have been further characterised for similarity with the vaccine components. The
influenza A viruses appear to be well matched. Approximately 80% of the influenza B viruses characterised
are a match to the trivalent vaccine strain with the remaining influenza B viruses matching the additional
strain in the quadrivalent vaccine.
For more information: Department of Health
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