Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: World Health Organization, full PDF document: (LINK). Edited.]
Influenza Update N? 202, 13 January 2014
Summary
The WHO GISRS laboratories tested more than 88 471 specimens.
17 640 were positive for influenza viruses, of which 15 233 (86.4%) were typed as influenza A and 2406 (13.6%) as influenza B.
Of the sub-typed influenza A viruses, 6889 (67.2%) were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, and 3365 (32.8%) were influenza A(H3N2).
Of the characterized B viruses, 352 (81.1%) belong to the B-Yamagata lineage and 82 (18.9%) to the B-Victoria lineage.
For updates on human infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus see the WHO website http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/influenza_h7n9/
(...)
Countries in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere
North America
Influenza activity sharply increased in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America (USA) and was primarily associated with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.
In Canada consultation rates for influenza like illness (ILI), hospitalisations, as well as prescription rates for antivirals sharply increased in the last two weeks of 2013. During this season 17 influenza-associated deaths were reported and of these the majority (13) were associated with A(H1N1)pdm09.
In the USA, the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 4.3%, above the national baseline of 2.0%. All ten regions reported ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels. However, the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) for the last week of 2013 (week 52) was 6.5% which is below the epidemic threshold. Two influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported during week 52 (six deaths have been reported this season).
In Canada and the USA a smaller proportion of hospitalizations and laboratory confirmed influenza cases were reported in adults > 65 years of age this season compared to the 2012-13 season when A(H3N2) predominated.
In Mexico, the acute respiratory infection (ARI) and pneumonia rates continued to increased, however they remained within the expected levels for this time of year. Most of the increased ARI and pneumonia activity was reported in the northern states of the country.
(...)
Europe
Low levels of influenza activity continued although detections of influenza have been increasing. All three influenza subtypes (influenza A(H1N1)pdm, A(H3N2), and B) were detected but in low numbers.The number of hospitalizations due to severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) remained low.
Northern Africa and the Western and Central Asia region
Influenza activity was low in north Africa but increasing ILI activity was noted in Turkey associated with increasing detections of A(H3N2) virus.
Jordan also reported detections of A(H3N2).
Eastern Asia
Influenza activity in the eastern Asia continued to increase.
In China influenza activity was high and increasing. Influenza A(H3N2) predominated in the south of China and A(H1N1)pdm09 and B in the north of China. While in the north of China ILI activity was in the range of the previous years, activity was slightly higher the south of China compared to previous three seasons.
In the Republic of Korea, ILI activity crossed the national threshold for seasonal activity with mainly influenza B virus being detected.
(...)
Countries in the tropical zone
Tropical countries of the Americas/Central America and the Caribbean
Overall influenza activity in the Caribbean, Central America and tropical areas of South America was at low levels.
Central African tropical region
In the African tropical region, influenza activity was reported from the central and western regions with detections of all three subtypes. Influenza A(H3N2) virus was detected in Madagascar.
(...)
Tropical Asia
Influenza activity in southern Asia was generally low with a decreasing trend. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran reported increasing influenza detections since mid-November.
Influenza activity in South-East Asia varied among countries but overall was rather low. Influenza detections increased in Singapore, while the rate of acute respiratory infections was below the national threshold.
(...)
Countries in the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere
In the southern hemisphere the season is over and all indicators are at interseasonal level.
(...)
Source of data
The Global Influenza Programme monitors influenza activity worldwide and publishes an update every two weeks.
The updates are based on available epidemiological and virological data sources, including FluNet (reported by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System) and influenza reports from WHO Regional Offices and Member States. Completeness can vary among updates due to availability and quality of data available at the time when the update is developed.
Link to web pages
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Influenza Update N? 202, 13 January 2014
Summary
- In North America influenza activity has sharply increased over recent weeks. The predominant subtype of influenza viruses detected was A(H1N1)pdm09.
- In China influenza activity has been increasing with influenza (H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and influenza B circulating.
- For the rest of the northern hemisphere as well as in the southern hemisphere influenza activity remained low.
- In countries of tropical areas variable influenza activity was reported.
The WHO GISRS laboratories tested more than 88 471 specimens.
17 640 were positive for influenza viruses, of which 15 233 (86.4%) were typed as influenza A and 2406 (13.6%) as influenza B.
Of the sub-typed influenza A viruses, 6889 (67.2%) were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, and 3365 (32.8%) were influenza A(H3N2).
Of the characterized B viruses, 352 (81.1%) belong to the B-Yamagata lineage and 82 (18.9%) to the B-Victoria lineage.
For updates on human infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus see the WHO website http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/influenza_h7n9/
(...)
Countries in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere
North America
Influenza activity sharply increased in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America (USA) and was primarily associated with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.
In Canada consultation rates for influenza like illness (ILI), hospitalisations, as well as prescription rates for antivirals sharply increased in the last two weeks of 2013. During this season 17 influenza-associated deaths were reported and of these the majority (13) were associated with A(H1N1)pdm09.
In the USA, the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 4.3%, above the national baseline of 2.0%. All ten regions reported ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels. However, the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) for the last week of 2013 (week 52) was 6.5% which is below the epidemic threshold. Two influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported during week 52 (six deaths have been reported this season).
In Canada and the USA a smaller proportion of hospitalizations and laboratory confirmed influenza cases were reported in adults > 65 years of age this season compared to the 2012-13 season when A(H3N2) predominated.
In Mexico, the acute respiratory infection (ARI) and pneumonia rates continued to increased, however they remained within the expected levels for this time of year. Most of the increased ARI and pneumonia activity was reported in the northern states of the country.
(...)
Europe
Low levels of influenza activity continued although detections of influenza have been increasing. All three influenza subtypes (influenza A(H1N1)pdm, A(H3N2), and B) were detected but in low numbers.The number of hospitalizations due to severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) remained low.
Northern Africa and the Western and Central Asia region
Influenza activity was low in north Africa but increasing ILI activity was noted in Turkey associated with increasing detections of A(H3N2) virus.
Jordan also reported detections of A(H3N2).
Eastern Asia
Influenza activity in the eastern Asia continued to increase.
In China influenza activity was high and increasing. Influenza A(H3N2) predominated in the south of China and A(H1N1)pdm09 and B in the north of China. While in the north of China ILI activity was in the range of the previous years, activity was slightly higher the south of China compared to previous three seasons.
In the Republic of Korea, ILI activity crossed the national threshold for seasonal activity with mainly influenza B virus being detected.
(...)
Countries in the tropical zone
Tropical countries of the Americas/Central America and the Caribbean
Overall influenza activity in the Caribbean, Central America and tropical areas of South America was at low levels.
Central African tropical region
In the African tropical region, influenza activity was reported from the central and western regions with detections of all three subtypes. Influenza A(H3N2) virus was detected in Madagascar.
(...)
Tropical Asia
Influenza activity in southern Asia was generally low with a decreasing trend. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran reported increasing influenza detections since mid-November.
Influenza activity in South-East Asia varied among countries but overall was rather low. Influenza detections increased in Singapore, while the rate of acute respiratory infections was below the national threshold.
(...)
Countries in the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere
In the southern hemisphere the season is over and all indicators are at interseasonal level.
(...)
Source of data
The Global Influenza Programme monitors influenza activity worldwide and publishes an update every two weeks.
The updates are based on available epidemiological and virological data sources, including FluNet (reported by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System) and influenza reports from WHO Regional Offices and Member States. Completeness can vary among updates due to availability and quality of data available at the time when the update is developed.
Link to web pages
- Influenza reports from WHO Regional Offices:
- Epidemiological Influenza updates: http://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/latest_update_GIP_surveillance
- Epidemiological Influenza updates archives 2012: http://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/GIP_surveillance_2012_archives
- Virological surveillance updates : http://www.who.int/influenza/gisrs_laboratory/updates/summaryreport
- Virological surveillance updates archives : http://www.who.int/influenza/gisrs_laboratory/updates/
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