This year's flu season has officially hit Europe, a body which monitors the virus said.
The European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS) confirmed there is an increase in "activity" of influenza reported in five countries.
They are Greece, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Spain and Switzerland - and this has been accompanied by increases in laboratory-confirmed cases.
England and Scotland were also included in a list of countries where the majority of flu detections in Europe were reported.
During a season, or epidemic, the death toll from flu and its complications is up to half a million people annually worldwide.
And so far, this year's cases have primarily been of the H3 strain of influenza A, said by the body to be more virulent than influenza B, which dominated in Europe last year.
Studies have found there is "significantly higher mortality" associated with the A H3 virus compared with the B virus, the EISS said.
The EISS said the increase in activity signals the start of the influenza season and based on previous data, influenza activity is expected to increase in many more countries over the coming weeks.
Confirmed cases from population-based samples for the whole of Europe have risen to more than 350 a week in week two of 2007.
They are expected to peak at between 1,000 and 2,000 as the acute respiratory illness sweeps through more countries.
The European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS) confirmed there is an increase in "activity" of influenza reported in five countries.
They are Greece, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Spain and Switzerland - and this has been accompanied by increases in laboratory-confirmed cases.
England and Scotland were also included in a list of countries where the majority of flu detections in Europe were reported.
During a season, or epidemic, the death toll from flu and its complications is up to half a million people annually worldwide.
And so far, this year's cases have primarily been of the H3 strain of influenza A, said by the body to be more virulent than influenza B, which dominated in Europe last year.
Studies have found there is "significantly higher mortality" associated with the A H3 virus compared with the B virus, the EISS said.
The EISS said the increase in activity signals the start of the influenza season and based on previous data, influenza activity is expected to increase in many more countries over the coming weeks.
Confirmed cases from population-based samples for the whole of Europe have risen to more than 350 a week in week two of 2007.
They are expected to peak at between 1,000 and 2,000 as the acute respiratory illness sweeps through more countries.
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