kiwibird
Editor, Senior Moderator
Summary for 30 September 2010 (Week 39)
?Influenza activity remains low across the UK.
?In week 38 (ending 26 September), the RCGP weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate in England was 4.5 per 100,000, in Wales the influenza rate was 1.6 per 100,000, in Northern Ireland the combined influenza and ILI rate was 10.9 per 100,000 and in Scotland the ILI rate was 23.2 (decreased from 31.2) per 100,000 (figure 1). The QSurveillance ILI rate was 5 per 100,000. In all schemes, the rate remains below the baseline level.
?The RCGP consultation rates for acute bronchitis and respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza detections, reported from HPA/NHS laboratories, remain low.
?Of the 25 respiratory specimens collected through the English GP sentinel virological schemes in weeks 37 and 38, one was positive for influenza B (figure 2).
?Forty-five of 6,379 pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses tested have been confirmed to carry a mutation which confers resistance to the antiviral drug oseltamivir; 15 of the 45 viruses have been tested and confirmed to be phenotypically resistant to the drug but retain sensitivity to zanamivir.
?Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 474 deaths reported due to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the UK; 359 in England, 69 in Scotland, 28 in Wales and 18 in N Ireland.
?One outbreak of influenza B has been reported recently in a primary school in the South West of England. Outbreaks of acute respiratory disease should be reported to Health Protection Units and to respcdsc@hpa.org.uk.
?The UK 2010/11 influenza vaccination programme has now begun. For further information see the CMO letter or the Department of Health Green Book.
.... more information including graphs, including one showing a very strong uptick in samples being taken by sentinel doctors. http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Infect...wineInfluenza/SIEpidemiologicalData/SIWeekly/
?Influenza activity remains low across the UK.
?In week 38 (ending 26 September), the RCGP weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate in England was 4.5 per 100,000, in Wales the influenza rate was 1.6 per 100,000, in Northern Ireland the combined influenza and ILI rate was 10.9 per 100,000 and in Scotland the ILI rate was 23.2 (decreased from 31.2) per 100,000 (figure 1). The QSurveillance ILI rate was 5 per 100,000. In all schemes, the rate remains below the baseline level.
?The RCGP consultation rates for acute bronchitis and respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza detections, reported from HPA/NHS laboratories, remain low.
?Of the 25 respiratory specimens collected through the English GP sentinel virological schemes in weeks 37 and 38, one was positive for influenza B (figure 2).
?Forty-five of 6,379 pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses tested have been confirmed to carry a mutation which confers resistance to the antiviral drug oseltamivir; 15 of the 45 viruses have been tested and confirmed to be phenotypically resistant to the drug but retain sensitivity to zanamivir.
?Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 474 deaths reported due to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the UK; 359 in England, 69 in Scotland, 28 in Wales and 18 in N Ireland.
?One outbreak of influenza B has been reported recently in a primary school in the South West of England. Outbreaks of acute respiratory disease should be reported to Health Protection Units and to respcdsc@hpa.org.uk.
?The UK 2010/11 influenza vaccination programme has now begun. For further information see the CMO letter or the Department of Health Green Book.
.... more information including graphs, including one showing a very strong uptick in samples being taken by sentinel doctors. http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Infect...wineInfluenza/SIEpidemiologicalData/SIWeekly/