Italy: 40,000 stricken by Influenza-like Illnesses (ANSA, September 9 2013, extract)

[Giuseppe]

[Source: ANSA, full page in Italian:
http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/scienza/2013/09/09/Virus-simili-influenza-40mila-letto_9270302.html
, extract translated.]


40,000 Italians stricken by Influenza-like Illnesses

But the true seasonal influenza outbreak will start in late october, an expert said.

09 September 2013

ROME, 9 SEPT - Around 40,000 Italians have been already stricken by influenza-like illnesses, caused by milder respiratory viruses than those behind the seasonal influenza outbreaks.

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[sharon sanders]

Re: Italy: 40,000 stricken by Influenza-like Illnesses (ANSA, September 9 2013, extract)

What is the time period for the 40,000? Last 5 or 6 weeks? Since the end of the Italian flu season - May 2013 approximately?

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Italy: 40,000 stricken by Influenza-like Illnesses (ANSA, September 9 2013, extract)

I think the figures are related to a weekly surveillance (limited, since the Nationwide sentinel GP-based reporting should start at mid October).

Usually this time of year sees in Italy a lot of respiratory viruses activity, and even SARI cases in older people. From this point of view, I think there is nothing strange of this ILI upsurge.

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Italy: 40,000 stricken by Influenza-like Illnesses (ANSA, September 9 2013, extract)

ILI/ARI graphs (with year-to-year comparison) are available at http://www.cirinet.it/jm/ili-nazionale.html

For example, last year (wk 41) ILI incidence x 1,000 was 0.61 (so we should have had around 36,600 cases Nationwide).