Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
Re: Australia Influenza Surveillance 2013
Updated information is indicated with a *
*New South Wales
Week 36 Ending 8 September 2013
Summary:
For the week ending 8 September 2013, influenza activity eased. Influenza surveillance measures appear to indicate that we have passed the peak of influenza activity for the current influenza season.
Emergency Department surveillance ? the index of increase for influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was above the seasonal threshold, although continues to decline. The current level is consistent with the winter influenza season.
Laboratory surveillance ? the proportion of respiratory samples positive for influenza A and B eased slightly this week (27.4%), predominantly influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. Other respiratory virus activity is also high.
Community illness surveillance ? data collected from eGPs, ASPREN and FluTracking on ILI activity in NSW overall eased further this week.
National and International influenza surveillance ? No new human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain from China; otherwise low influenza activity worldwide.
For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert
*Queensland
Week ending September 8th.
There were 237 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 113 were attributed to influenza B virus, 117 were listed as Influenza A unsubtyped, 0 as A/H3N2 and 7 as A/H1N1(pdm09). 17 hospitalizations occurred (public hospitals only). There have been 3,219 influenza cases year-to-date.
There have been 260 hospital admissions including 39 to ICU.
For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases
*South Australia
1 to 7 September 2013
Two hundred and seventy-four cases of influenza were reported this week, compared to 308 cases reported in the previous week. Of these cases, 148 were attributed to influenza A virus and 125 were typed as influenza B. There have been 2,277 influenza cases notified year-to-date compared with 5,026 cases reported for the same period last year.
Cases comprised of 115 males and 158 females, with a median of 20 years. Of these, 30% were children <10 years of age and 6% were reported in persons aged 65 years or older. Since the beginning of 2013, 22% of notified influenza cases were reported in children <10 years of age.
For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch
Tasmania
Week ending September 1st
Summary
There has been an increase in Tasmanian influenza notifications during the last fortnight. Syndromic surveillance systems are reporting increasing levels of influenza like illness (ILI) above the baseline. Respiratory pathogen testing suggests that influenza and other non-influenza viruses are contributing to ILI in Tasmania.
There has been an increase in the number of influenza notifications, with 42 cases received during the last fortnight ending 1 September. These notifications account for 45% of the 93 influenza notifications now received during 2013.
The majority of notifications received have been in residents of the South region of Tasmania. Differences in notifications for the year to date may not reflect the different level of influenza between regions. Apart from differences in regional populations, this is also affected by how many people seek medical care and get tested for influenza.
Influenza types
During 2013 up to 1 September, 78 Influenza A notifications and 15 Influenza B notifications were received. The
majority of typed Influenza A cases have been Influenza A H1N1 (2009 strain).
For more information: DHHS Tasmania
Victoria
Report No: 19
Week Ending: September 8, 2013
Summary
? Influenza-like illness (ILI) fell below baseline levels this week with a presentation rate of 3.8 cases per 1000 patients seen. MMDS rates remained above baseline levels.
? From the 306 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 8/9/13) 30 have been positive for influenza A and 36 for influenza B.
? The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were influenza. Of the 144 influenza viruses detected so far this year 41 were A(H1N1)pdm09, 30 were H3, seven are untyped/ yet to be typed and 66 were influenza B.
? This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported nine hospitalisations, six from influenza B, one from influenza A(H3N2) and two from influenza A untyped. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 150 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which two were patients with A(H1N1)pdm09, 54 were untyped influenza A patients, 27 were influenza A(H3N2) and 66 were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 150 hospitalisations 18 were admitted to ICU, three were pregnant and 116 had comorbidities.
? Of the 208 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, 44 were A(H1N1)pdm09, 42 H3 and 122 influenza B. The majority of strain-typed influenza B viruses in Victoria in 2013 have been B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like, an antigenic drift variant of the B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus in the 2013 southern hemisphere vaccine.
? The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 16.026, of which 2,906 (18%) were from Victoria.
For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
Western Australia
WEEK ENDING 8TH OF SEPTEMBER 2013
INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES (ILI)
Summary: Influenza activity was generally stable or decreasing, although hospitalisations continued to
increase.
? Influenza-like illness presentations to both general practice and hospitals increased marginally, but
influenza laboratory detections, especially of A/H3N2 virus, decreased.
? Influenza A/H3N2 and A/H1N1 were detected in nearly equal numbers, and influenza B activity remains
relatively low.
? Influenza hospital admissions increased, both numerically and as a proportion of all admissions.
? Detections of parainfluenza viruses and metapneumovirus continue to increase, while RSV
activity is declining.
For more information: WA Virus Watch
*Nationally
For the period to Jan 1- Sep 21, 2013 there were 18,336 confirmed Influenza cases.
The majority of notifications have been in NSW with 6,481, QLD had 3,638, Victoria 3,271, SA 2,675, WA had 1,498, ACT 399, NT 247 and Tas 127.
For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)
ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.
No. 16, 2013
29th July ? 11th August 2013
Nationally, ILI notifications remained steady over the period with 243 and 177
notifications in week 31 and 32 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased
remained steady with 13 and 10 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 31 and 32
respectively, compared to 12 cases per 1000 in weeks 29 and 30. For the same
reporting period in 2012, ILI rates were higher at 20 cases per 1000 consultations (see
Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is important to note the increased ILI rate in urban
NSW (see figure 3).
For more information: ASPREN
*Flu Tracking
Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #21 - ending 15 September 2013
Low levels of influenza-like illness activity.
This survey was sent on Monday 16 September 6:15 AM and by Thursday 19 September 9:00 AM we had
received 14623 responses (14499 last week) from 9432 people responding for themselves and 5191 household
members across Australia.
Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.6% of vaccinated participants and 2.7% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.6% of vaccinated
participants and 1.7% of unvaccinated participants.
For participants this week, 8756/14614 (59.9%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2982
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2344 (78.6%) have received the vaccine.
For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking
Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:
Australian influenza report 2013? 17 August to 30 August 2013 (#06/2013)
Current Report Summary
The seasonal increase in influenza activity has slowed. Influenza activity remains relatively low compared to 2011 and 2012.
Since the beginning of the year there have been 14,068 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported. Over the past fortnight there were 3,262 notifications, with almost half reported from New South Wales (1,419).
Nationally, whilst influenza A remains the predominant influenza virus type, the proportion of influenza B this season has been higher than recent years. During the 2012 season there were very few notifications of influenza A(H1N1) pdm09. So far in 2013, whilst the majority of influenza A reports are unsubtyped, approximately 15% of overall notifications have been reported as influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.
Across jurisdictions the distribution of influenza types and subtypes is variable. In Western Australia, influenza A(H3N2) remains the predominant subtype, however the proportion of A(H1N1)pdm09 is increasing. Influenza type B continues to represent over half of Victoria's influenza notifications. In recent weeks there have been increasing proportions of influenza B in South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.
Notification data show that there is a predominance of influenza B infections in those aged less than 15 years, with influenza A infections peaking in the 0-4 and 30-34 years age groups. Consistent with A(H1N1)pdm09 dominant years, there are very few notifications of this subtype in those aged 65 years and over.
Over the past few weeks the rate of seasonal increase in influenza associated hospitalisations has stabilised. Almost 15% of influenza cases have been admitted directly to ICU. The age distribution of hospital admissions shows peaks in the 0-9 and over 60 years age groups.
The WHO has reported that influenza activity in the northern hemisphere temperate zones remains at inter-seasonal levels. In the temperate countries of South America and Southern Africa, influenza transmission peaked in late June and was primarily associated with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.
For more information see Department of Health and Ageing
Updated information is indicated with a *
*New South Wales
Week 36 Ending 8 September 2013
Summary:
For the week ending 8 September 2013, influenza activity eased. Influenza surveillance measures appear to indicate that we have passed the peak of influenza activity for the current influenza season.
Emergency Department surveillance ? the index of increase for influenza-like illness (ILI) presentations was above the seasonal threshold, although continues to decline. The current level is consistent with the winter influenza season.
Laboratory surveillance ? the proportion of respiratory samples positive for influenza A and B eased slightly this week (27.4%), predominantly influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. Other respiratory virus activity is also high.
Community illness surveillance ? data collected from eGPs, ASPREN and FluTracking on ILI activity in NSW overall eased further this week.
National and International influenza surveillance ? No new human cases of infection with the novel avian influenza A(H7N9) strain from China; otherwise low influenza activity worldwide.
For more information: NSW Health - Infectious Diseases Alert
*Queensland
Week ending September 8th.
There were 237 cases of influenza virus infection reported this week. Of these cases, 113 were attributed to influenza B virus, 117 were listed as Influenza A unsubtyped, 0 as A/H3N2 and 7 as A/H1N1(pdm09). 17 hospitalizations occurred (public hospitals only). There have been 3,219 influenza cases year-to-date.
There have been 260 hospital admissions including 39 to ICU.
For more information: QLD Health - Preventable Diseases
*South Australia
1 to 7 September 2013
Two hundred and seventy-four cases of influenza were reported this week, compared to 308 cases reported in the previous week. Of these cases, 148 were attributed to influenza A virus and 125 were typed as influenza B. There have been 2,277 influenza cases notified year-to-date compared with 5,026 cases reported for the same period last year.
Cases comprised of 115 males and 158 females, with a median of 20 years. Of these, 30% were children <10 years of age and 6% were reported in persons aged 65 years or older. Since the beginning of 2013, 22% of notified influenza cases were reported in children <10 years of age.
For more information: Communicable Diseases Control Branch
Tasmania
Week ending September 1st
Summary
There has been an increase in Tasmanian influenza notifications during the last fortnight. Syndromic surveillance systems are reporting increasing levels of influenza like illness (ILI) above the baseline. Respiratory pathogen testing suggests that influenza and other non-influenza viruses are contributing to ILI in Tasmania.
There has been an increase in the number of influenza notifications, with 42 cases received during the last fortnight ending 1 September. These notifications account for 45% of the 93 influenza notifications now received during 2013.
The majority of notifications received have been in residents of the South region of Tasmania. Differences in notifications for the year to date may not reflect the different level of influenza between regions. Apart from differences in regional populations, this is also affected by how many people seek medical care and get tested for influenza.
Influenza types
During 2013 up to 1 September, 78 Influenza A notifications and 15 Influenza B notifications were received. The
majority of typed Influenza A cases have been Influenza A H1N1 (2009 strain).
For more information: DHHS Tasmania
Victoria
Report No: 19
Week Ending: September 8, 2013
Summary
? Influenza-like illness (ILI) fell below baseline levels this week with a presentation rate of 3.8 cases per 1000 patients seen. MMDS rates remained above baseline levels.
? From the 306 swabs received from surveillance GPs this season (30/4/13 ? 8/9/13) 30 have been positive for influenza A and 36 for influenza B.
? The majority of viruses detected through routine testing this week were influenza. Of the 144 influenza viruses detected so far this year 41 were A(H1N1)pdm09, 30 were H3, seven are untyped/ yet to be typed and 66 were influenza B.
? This week the Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) reported nine hospitalisations, six from influenza B, one from influenza A(H3N2) and two from influenza A untyped. Since 6/4/2013 FluCAN have reported 150 hospitalisations with confirmed influenza, of which two were patients with A(H1N1)pdm09, 54 were untyped influenza A patients, 27 were influenza A(H3N2) and 66 were influenza B from the four Victorian sentinel hospitals. Of the 150 hospitalisations 18 were admitted to ICU, three were pregnant and 116 had comorbidities.
? Of the 208 influenza viruses analysed at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza year to date from Victoria, 44 were A(H1N1)pdm09, 42 H3 and 122 influenza B. The majority of strain-typed influenza B viruses in Victoria in 2013 have been B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like, an antigenic drift variant of the B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus in the 2013 southern hemisphere vaccine.
? The total number of laboratory confirmed notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to date was 16.026, of which 2,906 (18%) were from Victoria.
For more information: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
Western Australia
WEEK ENDING 8TH OF SEPTEMBER 2013
INFLUENZA AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES (ILI)
Summary: Influenza activity was generally stable or decreasing, although hospitalisations continued to
increase.
? Influenza-like illness presentations to both general practice and hospitals increased marginally, but
influenza laboratory detections, especially of A/H3N2 virus, decreased.
? Influenza A/H3N2 and A/H1N1 were detected in nearly equal numbers, and influenza B activity remains
relatively low.
? Influenza hospital admissions increased, both numerically and as a proportion of all admissions.
? Detections of parainfluenza viruses and metapneumovirus continue to increase, while RSV
activity is declining.
For more information: WA Virus Watch
*Nationally
For the period to Jan 1- Sep 21, 2013 there were 18,336 confirmed Influenza cases.
The majority of notifications have been in NSW with 6,481, QLD had 3,638, Victoria 3,271, SA 2,675, WA had 1,498, ACT 399, NT 247 and Tas 127.
For national data: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN)
ASPREN is a national syndromic surveillance program co-ordinated by the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. One of the conditions under surveillance is influenza like illness (ILI). General practitioners participating in the ASPREN program contribute data on the proportion of consultations which are ILI related.
No. 16, 2013
29th July ? 11th August 2013
Nationally, ILI notifications remained steady over the period with 243 and 177
notifications in week 31 and 32 respectively. ILI rates reported in this period increased
remained steady with 13 and 10 cases per 1000 consultations in weeks 31 and 32
respectively, compared to 12 cases per 1000 in weeks 29 and 30. For the same
reporting period in 2012, ILI rates were higher at 20 cases per 1000 consultations (see
Figure 1). On a state-by-state basis, it is important to note the increased ILI rate in urban
NSW (see figure 3).
For more information: ASPREN
*Flu Tracking
Flutracking Weekly Interim Report
Week #21 - ending 15 September 2013
Low levels of influenza-like illness activity.
This survey was sent on Monday 16 September 6:15 AM and by Thursday 19 September 9:00 AM we had
received 14623 responses (14499 last week) from 9432 people responding for themselves and 5191 household
members across Australia.
Across Australia, fever and cough was reported by
2.6% of vaccinated participants and 2.7% of
unvaccinated participants. Fever, cough and absence
from normal duties was reported by 1.6% of vaccinated
participants and 1.7% of unvaccinated participants.
For participants this week, 8756/14614 (59.9%) have
received the seasonal vaccine so far. Of the 2982
participants who identified as working face-to-face with
patients, 2344 (78.6%) have received the vaccine.
For more information, or to enrol: Flu Tracking
Australian influenza report 2013 - Current report:
Australian influenza report 2013? 17 August to 30 August 2013 (#06/2013)
Current Report Summary
The seasonal increase in influenza activity has slowed. Influenza activity remains relatively low compared to 2011 and 2012.
Since the beginning of the year there have been 14,068 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported. Over the past fortnight there were 3,262 notifications, with almost half reported from New South Wales (1,419).
Nationally, whilst influenza A remains the predominant influenza virus type, the proportion of influenza B this season has been higher than recent years. During the 2012 season there were very few notifications of influenza A(H1N1) pdm09. So far in 2013, whilst the majority of influenza A reports are unsubtyped, approximately 15% of overall notifications have been reported as influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.
Across jurisdictions the distribution of influenza types and subtypes is variable. In Western Australia, influenza A(H3N2) remains the predominant subtype, however the proportion of A(H1N1)pdm09 is increasing. Influenza type B continues to represent over half of Victoria's influenza notifications. In recent weeks there have been increasing proportions of influenza B in South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.
Notification data show that there is a predominance of influenza B infections in those aged less than 15 years, with influenza A infections peaking in the 0-4 and 30-34 years age groups. Consistent with A(H1N1)pdm09 dominant years, there are very few notifications of this subtype in those aged 65 years and over.
Over the past few weeks the rate of seasonal increase in influenza associated hospitalisations has stabilised. Almost 15% of influenza cases have been admitted directly to ICU. The age distribution of hospital admissions shows peaks in the 0-9 and over 60 years age groups.
The WHO has reported that influenza activity in the northern hemisphere temperate zones remains at inter-seasonal levels. In the temperate countries of South America and Southern Africa, influenza transmission peaked in late June and was primarily associated with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.
For more information see Department of Health and Ageing
