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Ireland Influenza Surveillance 2014-2015

Influenza Surveillance in Ireland ? Weekly Report
Influenza Week 14 2015 (30th March ? 5th April 2015)


Summary

Overall, influenza activity decreased further in Ireland during the week ending 5th April 2015 (week 14 2015). Confirmed influenza outbreaks and hospitalisations continue to be reported at low levels.

 Influenza-like illness (ILI): The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was 11.4 per 100,000 population in week 14 2015, a decrease compared to the updated rate of 16.4 per 100,000 population during week 13 2015.
o ILI rates remain below the Irish baseline threshold (18.2/100,000 population).
o Age specific ILI rates have decreased significantly in all age groups in recent weeks.

 National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL):
o Influenza positivity decreased further during week 14 2015, with 37 (15.7%) influenza positive specimens reported from the NVRL: 7 A(H3) and 30 B.
o The number of influenza B positive specimens was higher than influenza A(H3) during weeks 12, 13 and 14 2015, however overall positive detections for both influenza A(H3) and influenza B are decreasing. For the season to date, influenza A(H3) viruses have predominated.
o No positive detections of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus or parainfluenza viruses were reported during week 14 2015. Sporadic cases of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) continue to be reported each week.

 Respiratory admissions: The latest complete respiratory admissions data reported from sentinel hospitals decreased compared to recent weeks.

 Hospitalisations: 35 confirmed influenza hospitalised cases were notified to HPSC during the week ending 5 th April 2015. For the 2014/2015 season to date, 830 confirmed influenza cases were reported as hospitalised. The median age of confirmed influenza hospitalised cases to date this season is 61 years.

 Critical care admissions: No new confirmed influenza cases were admitted to critical care units and reported to HPSC during week 14 2015. To date this season, 46 confirmed influenza cases were admitted to critical care units and reported to HPSC: 22 associated with A(H3), eight with A(H1)pdm09, nine with influenza A (not subtyped) and seven with B. The median age of confirmed influenza cases admitted to critical care units to date this season is 68 years.

 Mortality: Twenty-seven influenza-associated deaths have been reported to HPSC this season, with a median age of 81 years. Between weeks 2 - 10 2015, excess all-cause mortality was reported in Ireland in those aged 65 years and older.

 Outbreaks: Three acute respiratory general outbreaks were reported to HPSC during the week ending 5 th April 2015: two outbreaks were associated with influenza A(H3) and one with influenza B. Of the 78 confirmed influenza outbreaks reported this season, the majority have been associated with influenza A(H3) in residential care facilities for the elderly.

 International: Globally, influenza activity decreased further but remained above the seasonal threshold in the northern hemisphere. While influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominated this season, the proportions of influenza B and influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 detections have increased in the last few weeks.
...
http://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/Respiratory/...lanceReports/20142015Season/File,15093,en.pdf
 
Influenza Surveillance in Ireland ? Weekly Report
Influenza Week 15 2015 (6th ? 12th April 2015)
...
Summary
Overall, influenza activity decreased further in Ireland during the week ending 12th April 2015 (week 15
2015). Confirmed influenza outbreaks and hospitalisations have continued to decrease in recent weeks.

 Influenza-like illness (ILI): The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was 14.0 per 100,000
population in week 15 2015, remaining stable compared to the updated rate of 11.9 per 100,000
population during week 14 2015.
o ILI rates remain below the Irish baseline threshold (18.2/100,000 population).
o Age specific ILI rates have decreased significantly in all age groups in recent weeks.

 National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL):
o Influenza positivity decreased further during week 15 2015, with 29 (16.8%) influenza positive
specimens reported from the NVRL: 4 A(H3), 1 A(H1)pdm09 and 24 B.
o The number of influenza B positive specimens reported each week has been higher than influenza
A, since week 12 2015; however positive detections for both influenza A and influenza B have
continued to decrease.
o Sporadic positive detections of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, parainfluenza viruses
and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) have been reported in recent weeks.  Respiratory admissions: The latest complete respiratory admissions data reported from sentinel hospitals
was low.

 Hospitalisations: 35 confirmed influenza hospitalised cases were notified to HPSC during the week ending
12th April 2015. For the 2014/2015 season to date, 874 confirmed influenza cases were reported as
hospitalised. The median age of confirmed influenza hospitalised cases to date this season is 60 years.

 Critical care admissions: One new confirmed influenza A(H3) case was admitted to a critical care unit and
reported to HPSC during week 15 2015. To date this season, 47 confirmed influenza cases were admitted
to critical care units and reported to HPSC: 23 associated with A(H3), eight with A(H1)pdm09, nine with
influenza A (not subtyped) and seven with B. The median age of confirmed influenza cases admitted to
critical care units to date this season is 68 years.

Mortality: Thirty influenza-associated deaths have been reported to HPSC this season, with a median age of
82 years. Between weeks 2 - 10 2015, excess all-cause mortality was reported in Ireland in those aged 65
years and older.

 Outbreaks: Two acute respiratory general outbreaks were reported to HPSC during the week ending 12th
April 2015: one outbreak was associated with influenza B and one outbreak had no pathogen identified.
Of the 79 confirmed influenza outbreaks reported this season, the majority have been associated with
influenza A(H3) in residential care facilities for the elderly.

 International: In Europe, influenza activity has continued to decrease, however the proportion of
influenza positive specimens has remained high.
...
http://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/Respiratory/...lanceReports/20142015Season/File,15099,en.pdf
 
High death toll from flu among elderly last winter
Irish Independent
Eilish O'Regan
9 hrs ago

Higher than normal deaths were reported in people over 65 from the beginning of the year. The average age of those who died was 81.

The main virus circulating was the A(H3) strain which was only partly covered by the flu vaccine, and particularly affects the elderly.
...
"The total number of confirmed influenza cases hospitalised this season is the highest reported since 2010/2011," said the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
...
http://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/other/high-death-toll-from-flu-among-elderly-last-winter/ar-BBkKKU6

Influenza Surveillance in Ireland ? Weekly Report
Influenza Week 20 2015 (11th ? 17th May 2015)

Summary
Overall, all indicators of influenza activity continued to decline and were at low levels in Ireland during
week 20 2015 (the week ending 17th May 2015).

 Influenza-like illness (ILI): The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was low at 2.6 per
100,000 population in week 20 2015.
o ILI rates remained below the Irish baseline threshold (18.2/100,000 population).
o Age specific ILI rates have remained low in all age groups in recent weeks.

 GP Out of Hours: The proportion of influenza?related calls to GP Out-of-Hours services remained at low
levels during week 20 2015.

 National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL):
o Influenza positivity remained low during week 20 2015. Thirteen (6.2%) influenza positive specimens
were reported from the NVRL during week 20 2015, all of which were positive for influenza B.
o Influenza B has been the predominant influenza virus circulating since week 12 2015, albeit at low
levels.
o Low numbers of positive detections of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, parainfluenza
viruses and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) have been reported in recent weeks.

 Respiratory admissions: The latest complete respiratory admissions data reported from sentinel hospitals
was low.

 Hospitalisations: Eight confirmed influenza hospitalised cases were notified to HPSC during the week
ending 17th May 2015. For the 2014/2015 season to date, 978 confirmed influenza cases were reported as
hospitalised. The median age of confirmed influenza hospitalised cases to date this season is 59 years.

 Critical care admissions: To date this season, 53 confirmed influenza cases were admitted to critical care
units and reported to HPSC: 25 associated with A(H3), nine with A(H1)pdm09, nine with influenza A (not
subtyped) and 10 with B. The median age of confirmed influenza cases admitted to critical care units to
date this season is 66 years.

 Mortality: Forty-one influenza-associated deaths have been reported to HPSC this season, with a median
age of 81 years. Between weeks 2 - 10 2015, excess all-cause mortality was reported in Ireland in those
aged 65 years and older.

 Outbreaks: Three acute respiratory general outbreaks from HSE-S were reported to HPSC during the week
ending 17th May 2015: two outbreaks were associated with influenza A and one outbreak had no
pathogen identified. Of the 89 confirmed influenza outbreaks reported this season, the majority have
been associated with influenza A(H3) in residential care facilities for the elderly.

 International: Globally, influenza activity remained at low levels. In the northern hemisphere influenza
activity was approaching inter-seasonal levels and in the southern hemisphere activity remained low.

http://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/Respiratory/...lanceReports/20142015Season/File,15185,en.pdf
 
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