Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
PHE Weekly National Influenza Report
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal respiratory
illnesses
26 March 2015 ? Week 13 report (up to week 12 data)
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...52/Weekly_report_current_wk13_26March2015.pdf
Summary:
In week 12 2015 (ending 22 March), influenza B was the predominant flu virus circulating, with indicators of influenza
activity generally at low levels. The Department of Health alert issued on the prescription of antiviral medicines by GPs
is still active.
Community influenza surveillance
o In week 12 there were small increases in GP consultations for URTI, acute respiratory infection and NHS 111 cough
calls. These increases coincide with current influenza B activity.
o 15 new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past seven days, 12 in care homes (one flu A(H3), two
flu A(untyped), four flu B, two parainfluenza and the rest not tested/results not available yet), two in hospitals (one flu
A(untyped) and one hMPV), and one in a school (not tested).
Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o The weekly ILI consultation rate for the GP In Hours Syndromic Surveillance system remained stable in week 12 at 12.0
per 100,000.
o In week 12, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultations remained stable in Wales (6.2 per 100,000) and
decreased slightly in Scotland (16.8 per 100,000) and Northern Ireland (23.5 per 100,000).
Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o 31 new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (18 influenza B, 11 influenza A unknown subtype and two
influenza A(H1N1)pdm09) were reported through the USISS mandatory ICU/HDU surveillance scheme across the UK
(135 Trusts in England) in week 12, a rate of 0.06 compared to 0.10 per 100,000 the previous week.
o 41 new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (30 influenza B, four influenza A(H3N2), four influenza A/unknown and
three influenza A(H1N1pdm09))were reported through the USISS sentinel hospital network across England (23 Trusts),
a rate of 0.47 compared to 0.43 per 100,000 the previous week.
All-cause mortality data
o In week 12 2015, statistically significant excess all-cause mortality by week of death was seen through the EuroMOMO
algorithm in England in 65+ year olds, though this is just above the significance threshold. Across the devolved
administrations, significant excess was seen in week 12 in Northern Ireland. Since week 40 2014, significant excess
mortality has been observed in England in weeks 50-7 and 12 2015 predominantly in 65+ year olds, peaking in week 2
2015. This period coincides with circulating influenza and cold snaps.
Microbiological surveillance
o 25 samples were positive for influenza through the English GP sentinel schemes (15 B, eight A(H1N1)pdm09 and two
A(H3N2))) with a positivity of 51.0% compared to 40.0% the previous week .
o 91 influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (58 B, 17 A(H3), six A(not subtyped) and
10 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, positivity of 10.3% compared to 12.4% previous week) with the highest positivity seen in
5-14 year olds (30.2%).
o Characterisation of influenza B viruses by the PHE Respiratory Virus Unit indicates that a proportion of the viruses
circulating this season are distinguishable from the Northern Hemisphere 2014/15 vaccine strain and are similar to the
influenza B virus selected for the 2015/16 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.
Vaccination
o Up to the end of January 2015, the provisional proportion of people in England who had received the 2014/15 influenza
vaccine in targeted groups was 50.3% in under 65 years in a clinical risk group, 44.1% in pregnant women, 72.8% in
65+ year olds, 38.5% in all 2 year olds, 41.3% in all 3 year olds and 32.9% in all 4 year olds.
o Provisional data from the fifth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show
54.9% were vaccinated by 28 February 2015 from 100.0% of Trusts.
o WHO have published their recommendations for the composition of the 2015/16 northern hemisphere influenza
vaccine.
International situation
o Globally, influenza activity remained elevated in the northern hemisphere. Influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominate,
although the proportion of influenza B viruses are increasing and some countries in Asia, Europe and North Africa
reported high levels of activity associated with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. In the European Region, influenza
activity appears to have passed its peak in most countries.
...
-In week 12, 31 new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (18 influenza B, 11 influenza A unknown subtype and two influenza A(H1N1)pdm09) were reported across the UK (135/156 Trusts in England) through the USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 compared to 0.10 per 100,000 the previous week. Three new confirmed influenza deaths were reported in week 12 2015. A total of 1,189 admissions (711 A unknown subtype, 251 A(H3N2), 103 A(H1N1)pdm09) and 124 B) and 118 confirmed influenza deaths have been reported since week 40 2014.
...
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal respiratory
illnesses
26 March 2015 ? Week 13 report (up to week 12 data)
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...52/Weekly_report_current_wk13_26March2015.pdf
Summary:
In week 12 2015 (ending 22 March), influenza B was the predominant flu virus circulating, with indicators of influenza
activity generally at low levels. The Department of Health alert issued on the prescription of antiviral medicines by GPs
is still active.
Community influenza surveillance
o In week 12 there were small increases in GP consultations for URTI, acute respiratory infection and NHS 111 cough
calls. These increases coincide with current influenza B activity.
o 15 new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past seven days, 12 in care homes (one flu A(H3), two
flu A(untyped), four flu B, two parainfluenza and the rest not tested/results not available yet), two in hospitals (one flu
A(untyped) and one hMPV), and one in a school (not tested).
Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o The weekly ILI consultation rate for the GP In Hours Syndromic Surveillance system remained stable in week 12 at 12.0
per 100,000.
o In week 12, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultations remained stable in Wales (6.2 per 100,000) and
decreased slightly in Scotland (16.8 per 100,000) and Northern Ireland (23.5 per 100,000).
Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o 31 new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (18 influenza B, 11 influenza A unknown subtype and two
influenza A(H1N1)pdm09) were reported through the USISS mandatory ICU/HDU surveillance scheme across the UK
(135 Trusts in England) in week 12, a rate of 0.06 compared to 0.10 per 100,000 the previous week.
o 41 new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (30 influenza B, four influenza A(H3N2), four influenza A/unknown and
three influenza A(H1N1pdm09))were reported through the USISS sentinel hospital network across England (23 Trusts),
a rate of 0.47 compared to 0.43 per 100,000 the previous week.
All-cause mortality data
o In week 12 2015, statistically significant excess all-cause mortality by week of death was seen through the EuroMOMO
algorithm in England in 65+ year olds, though this is just above the significance threshold. Across the devolved
administrations, significant excess was seen in week 12 in Northern Ireland. Since week 40 2014, significant excess
mortality has been observed in England in weeks 50-7 and 12 2015 predominantly in 65+ year olds, peaking in week 2
2015. This period coincides with circulating influenza and cold snaps.
Microbiological surveillance
o 25 samples were positive for influenza through the English GP sentinel schemes (15 B, eight A(H1N1)pdm09 and two
A(H3N2))) with a positivity of 51.0% compared to 40.0% the previous week .
o 91 influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (58 B, 17 A(H3), six A(not subtyped) and
10 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, positivity of 10.3% compared to 12.4% previous week) with the highest positivity seen in
5-14 year olds (30.2%).
o Characterisation of influenza B viruses by the PHE Respiratory Virus Unit indicates that a proportion of the viruses
circulating this season are distinguishable from the Northern Hemisphere 2014/15 vaccine strain and are similar to the
influenza B virus selected for the 2015/16 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.
Vaccination
o Up to the end of January 2015, the provisional proportion of people in England who had received the 2014/15 influenza
vaccine in targeted groups was 50.3% in under 65 years in a clinical risk group, 44.1% in pregnant women, 72.8% in
65+ year olds, 38.5% in all 2 year olds, 41.3% in all 3 year olds and 32.9% in all 4 year olds.
o Provisional data from the fifth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show
54.9% were vaccinated by 28 February 2015 from 100.0% of Trusts.
o WHO have published their recommendations for the composition of the 2015/16 northern hemisphere influenza
vaccine.
International situation
o Globally, influenza activity remained elevated in the northern hemisphere. Influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominate,
although the proportion of influenza B viruses are increasing and some countries in Asia, Europe and North Africa
reported high levels of activity associated with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. In the European Region, influenza
activity appears to have passed its peak in most countries.
...
-In week 12, 31 new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (18 influenza B, 11 influenza A unknown subtype and two influenza A(H1N1)pdm09) were reported across the UK (135/156 Trusts in England) through the USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 compared to 0.10 per 100,000 the previous week. Three new confirmed influenza deaths were reported in week 12 2015. A total of 1,189 admissions (711 A unknown subtype, 251 A(H3N2), 103 A(H1N1)pdm09) and 124 B) and 118 confirmed influenza deaths have been reported since week 40 2014.
...