United Kingdom - 2015-2016 Influenza Surveillance Reports

[Ronan Kelly]

PHE Weekly National Influenza Report
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal
respiratory illnesses
31 March 2016 ? Week 13 report (up to week 12 data)
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...746/Weekly_report_current_wk_13_31Mar2016.pdf

Summary
In week 12 2016 (ending 27 March 2016), allowing for Easter reporting breaks, influenza activity continues with influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza B co-circulating at present with elevated indicators across surveillance schemes, including the
number of influenza hospital and ICU admissions. Updated guidance on antiviral prescribing in secondary care when influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09 is the dominant circulating strain has been published.
 Community influenza surveillance
o During week 12, GP influenza-like consultations for influenza-like illness reported through the syndromic surveillance system
remain above baseline levels.
o Thirty new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past 7 days. 11 outbreaks were from schools where one
tested positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. 8 outbreaks were from hospitals, where four tested positive for influenza A(not
subtyped), one for influenza B and two influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. 11 outbreaks were from care homes where three tested
positive for influenza A(not subtyped) and two influenza B.
 Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o Due to the bank holiday in week 12 (ending 27 March 2016), GP surgeries were only open for four days ? data should therefore
be interpreted with caution.
o In week 12, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultation rate has decreased, but remains above the baseline
threshold in England (24.4 per 100,000). In the devolved administrations, the ILI rate for Scotland (30.8 per 100,000) has
increased, whereas ILI rates for Northern Ireland (33.7 per 100,000) and Wales (20.4 per 100,000) remained similar to last
week.
o Through the GP In Hours surveillance system, weekly ILI rates remain above baseline levels in week 12.
 Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o One hundred and thirty-four new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (fifty-one influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, forty-one
influenza A(unknown subtype), four influenza A(H3N2) and thirty-eight influenza B) were reported through the USISS mandatory
ICU/HDU surveillance scheme across the UK (122 NHS Trusts in England) in week 12, a rate of 0.34 per 100,000, compared to
0.36 per 100,000 in week 11. Seven new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported through this scheme.
o Two hundred and twelve new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (sixty-two influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, thirty-one influenza
A(unknown subtype), one influenza A(H3N2) and one hundred and eighteen influenza B) were reported through the USISS
sentinel hospital network across England (18 NHS Trusts), a rate of 2.84 per 100,000 in week 12 compared to 2.06 per 100,000
the previous week.
o Since week 40, sixty-four confirmed influenza admissions have been reported (fifty-six influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, six influenza
A(unknown subtype) and two influenza B) from the six Severe Respiratory Failure centres in the UK.
 All-cause mortality data
o Up to week 12 2016 in England, excess mortality by date of death has been seen in 15-64 year olds from week 52 to 03, 05 to
07 and 09 to 12; in <5 year olds in weeks 51 and 05, and 5-14 year olds in week 51 with the EuroMoMo algorithm. In the
devolved administrations, significant excess was seen in Northern Ireland (15-64 year olds) in week 12 2016.
 Microbiological surveillance
o Sixty-three samples tested positive for influenza (26 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 5 influenza A(untyped) and 32 influenza B)
through GP sentinel schemes across the UK, with an overall positivity of 44.1%, compared to 46.4% in the previous week.
o Three hundred and seventy-two influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (one hundred and
thirteen A(H1N1)pdm09, five A(H3), eighty A(not subtyped) and one hundred and seventy-four influenza B). A positivity of
25.0% was seen in week 12, compared to 25.0% in week 11, with the highest positivity in 15-44 year olds (29.3%). This is
above the all-age threshold for 2015/16 season of 7.4%.
 Vaccination
o Up to week 04 2016 (31 January 2016) in 98.8% GP practices reporting weekly to Immform, the provisional proportion of
people in England who had received the 2015/16 influenza vaccine in targeted groups was as follows: 45.1% in under 65
years in a clinical risk group, 42.3% in pregnant women, 71.0% in 65+ year olds, 35.4% in all 2 year olds, 37.7% in all 3 year
olds and 30.1% in all 4 year olds.
o Provisional data from the fifth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show 50.8% were
vaccinated by 29 February 2016 from 96.6% of Trusts, compared to 54.9% vaccinated in the previous season by 28 February
2015. The report is available here.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake children of school years 1 and 2 age show the
proportion of children in England who received the 2015/16 live attenuated intranasal vaccine (LAIV) from 1 September 2015
to 31 January 2016 was as follows: 53.6% in children school year 1 age (5-6 years) and 52.1% in children school year 2 age
(6-7 years).
o WHO have published their recommendations for the composition of the 2016/17 northern hemisphere influenza vaccine.
 International situation
o Globally, high levels of influenza activity continued to be reported in the Northern Hemisphere with influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09 being the predominant strain. In some countries in northern Europe influenza B virus detections were
increasing.
...
 Number of new admissions and fatal confirmed influenza cases in ICU/HDU (USISS mandatory ICU
scheme), UK (week 12)

- In week 12, one hundred and thirty-four new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (51 influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09, 41 influenza A(unknown subtype), 4 influenza A(H3N2) and 38 influenza B) were reported across the
UK (122/156 Trusts in England) through the USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.34 per
100,000, compared to 0.36 in the previous week. Seven new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported in week
12 2016. A total of 1,990 admissions (926 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 34 influenza A(H3N2), 880 influenza A (unknown
subtype) and 150 influenza B) and 165 confirmed influenza deaths have been reported since week 40 2015.
...
Comment: Problems seem to have been fixed - Ro

 

[Ronan Kelly]

PHE Weekly National Influenza Report
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal
respiratory illnesses
07 April 2016 ? Week 14 report (up to week 13 data)
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ly_National_Influenza_Report_week_14_2016.pdf

In week 13 2016 (ending 03 April 2016), allowing for Easter reporting breaks, influenza activity show signs of peaking however
influenza continues to circulate across surveillance schemes. Updated guidance on antiviral prescribing in secondary care
when influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 is the dominant circulating strain has been published.
 Community influenza surveillance
o During week 13, GP influenza-like consultations for influenza-like illness reported through the syndromic surveillance system
have decreased but remain above baseline levels.
o Nineteen new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past 7 days. 5 outbreaks were from schools. 7 outbreaks
were from hospitals, where 4 tested positive for influenza A(not subtyped) and two for influenza B. 6 outbreaks were from care
homes where one tested positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and one for influenza B. The 19th outbreak was from the other
settings category (prison).
 Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o Due to the bank holiday in week 13 (ending 03 April 2016), GP surgeries were only open for four days ? data should therefore
be interpreted with caution.
o In week 13, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultation rate has decreased, but remains above the baseline
threshold in England (21.8 per 100,000). In the devolved administrations, the ILI rates for Scotland (21.8 per 100,000), Wales
(19.1 per 100,000) and Northern Ireland (10.0 per 100,000) have decreased in week 13.
o Through the GP In Hours surveillance system, weekly ILI rates remain above baseline levels in week 12.
 Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o One hundred and twenty-five new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (forty-five influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, thirtynine
influenza A(unknown subtype), four influenza A(H3N2) and thirty-seven influenza B) were reported through the USISS
mandatory ICU/HDU surveillance scheme across the UK (122 NHS Trusts in England) in week 13, a rate of 0.27 per 100,000,
compared to 0.32 per 100,000 in week 12. Eleven new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported through this scheme.
o One hundred and thirty-four new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (forty-two influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, seventeen
influenza A(unknown subtype) and seventy-five influenza B) were reported through the USISS sentinel hospital network across
England (18 NHS Trusts), a rate of 1.75 per 100,000 in week 13 compared to 2.75 per 100,000 the previous week.
o Since week 40, sixty-seven confirmed influenza admissions have been reported (fifty-nine influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, six
influenza A(unknown subtype) and two influenza B) from the six Severe Respiratory Failure centres in the UK.
 All-cause mortality data
o Up to week 13 2016 in England, excess mortality by date of death has been seen in 15-64 year olds from week 52 to 03, 05 to
07, 09 to 10 and 12 to 13; in <5 year olds in weeks 51 and 05, and 5-14 year olds in week 51 with the EuroMoMo algorithm. In
the devolved administrations, significant excess was seen only in Northern Ireland (15-64 year olds) in week 13 2016.
 Microbiological surveillance
o Thirty samples tested positive for influenza (7 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 1 influenza A(untyped), 3 influenza A(H3N2) and 19
influenza B) through GP sentinel schemes across the UK, with an overall positivity of 35.3%, compared to 44.1% in the
previous week.
o Four hundred and eighteen influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (one hundred and
twenty-four A(H1N1)pdm09, seven A(H3), thirty-five A(not subtyped) and two hundred and fifty-two influenza B). A positivity of
23.0% was seen in week 13, compared to 28.1% in week 12, with the highest positivity in 15-44 year olds (29.3%). This is
above the all-age threshold for 2015/16 season of 7.4%.
 Vaccination
o Up to week 04 2016 (31 January 2016) in 98.8% GP practices reporting weekly to Immform, the provisional proportion of
people in England who had received the 2015/16 influenza vaccine in targeted groups was as follows: 45.1% in under 65
years in a clinical risk group, 42.3% in pregnant women, 71.0% in 65+ year olds, 35.4% in all 2 year olds, 37.7% in all 3 year
olds and 30.1% in all 4 year olds.
o Provisional data from the fifth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show 50.8% were
vaccinated by 29 February 2016 from 96.6% of Trusts, compared to 54.9% vaccinated in the previous season by 28 February
2015. The report is available here.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake children of school years 1 and 2 age show the
proportion of children in England who received the 2015/16 live attenuated intranasal vaccine (LAIV) from 1 September 2015
to 31 January 2016 was as follows: 53.6% in children school year 1 age (5-6 years) and 52.1% in children school year 2 age
(6-7 years).
o WHO have published their recommendations for the composition of the 2016/17 northern hemisphere influenza vaccine.
 International situation
o Globally, elevated levels of influenza activity continued to be reported in the Northern Hemisphere with influenza B virus
detections increasing.
...
 Number of new admissions and fatal confirmed influenza cases in ICU/HDU (USISS mandatory ICU
scheme), UK (week 13)
- In week 13, one hundred and twenty-five new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (45 influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09, 39 influenza A(unknown subtype), 4 influenza A(H3N2) and 39 influenza B) were reported across the
UK (122/156 Trusts in England) through the USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.27 per
100,000, compared to 0.32 in the previous week. Eleven new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported in week
13 2016. A total of 2,160 admissions (983 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 39 influenza A(H3N2), 940 influenza A (unknown
subtype) and 198 influenza B) and 182 confirmed influenza deaths have been reported since week 40 2015.
...

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Number of deaths in England and Wales hits 12-year high
Public Health England says less effective flu vaccine may have contributed to largest percentage rise in deaths since 1968

David Batty
@David_Batty
Thursday 7 April 2016 09.36 EDT Last modified on Thursday 7 April 2016 17.00 EDT

The failure to provide an effective flu vaccine last year may have contributed to the largest rise in deaths in England and Wales for 12 years, the government?s public health agency has admitted.

An additional 28,189 people died in 2015 compared with 2014, the largest percentage increase since 1968, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics. The majority (24,201) of the excess deaths were people aged 75 and over, many of whom died from flu or dementia.

The flu vaccine issued last winter only provided low protection against the main strain of the virus then affecting the UK, Public Health England (PHE) said.
...
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...hs-england-wales-12-year-high-life-expectancy

 

[Ronan Kelly]

PHE Weekly National Influenza Report
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal
respiratory illnesses
14 April 2016 ? Week 15 report (up to week 14 data)

In week 14 2016 (ending 10 April 2016), influenza activity has decreased but remains above baseline levels and continues to
circulate across surveillance schemes. Updated guidance on antiviral prescribing in secondary care when influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09 is the dominant circulating strain has been published.
 Community influenza surveillance
o During week 14, consultations and calls for respiratory infections have continued to decrease.
o Fifteen new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past 7 days. 1 outbreak was from a school. 4 outbreaks were
from hospitals, where 3 tested positive for influenza A(not subtyped). 7 outbreaks were from care homes where one tested
positive for influenza A(not subtyped) and one for influenza B. The remaining 3 outbreaks were from other settings, including 2
prisons and a nursery, where one tested positive for influenza A(not subtyped) and one tested positive for influenza B.
 Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o In week 14, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultation rate has decreased, but remains above the baseline
threshold in England (17.9 per 100,000). In the devolved administrations, the ILI rates for Scotland (19.7 per 100,000) and
Wales (16.6 per 100,000) have decreased in week 14 and increased in Northern Ireland (17.8 per 100,000).
o Through the GP In Hours surveillance system, weekly ILI rates have decrased but remain above baseline levels in week 14.
 Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o Eighty-eight new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza 23influenza A(H1N1)pdm09,29 influenza A(unknown
subtype), 1 influenza A(H3N2) and 35 influenza B) were reported through the USISS mandatory ICU/HDU surveillance scheme
across the UK (135 NHS Trusts in England) in week 14, a rate of 0.20 per 100,000, compared to 0.32 per 100,000 in week 13.
Twelve new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported through this scheme.
o Ninety-two new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (23 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 13 influenza A(unknown subtype), 1
influenza A(H3N2) and 55 influenza B) were reported through the USISS sentinel hospital network across England (18 NHS
Trusts), a rate of 1.31 per 100,000 in week 14 compared to 1.90 per 100,000 the previous week.
o Since week 40, seventy confirmed influenza admissions have been reported (62 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 6 influenza
A(unknown subtype) and 2 influenza B) from the six Severe Respiratory Failure centres in the UK.
 All-cause mortality data
o Up to week 14 2016 in England, excess mortality by date of death was seen in 15-64 year olds from week 52 to 03, 05 to 07,
09 to 10; in <5 year olds in weeks 40,51 and 05, and 5-14 year olds in week 51 with the EuroMoMo algorithm. In the devolved
administrations, significant excess was seen only in Northern Ireland (15-64 year olds) in week 14 2016.
 Microbiological surveillance
o Twenty-two samples tested positive for influenza (9 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 13 influenza B) through GP sentinel
schemes across the UK, with an overall positivity of 26.2%, compared to 35.4% in the previous week.
o Two hundred and forty-six influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (74 A(H1N1)pdm09, 5
A(H3), 21 A(not subtyped) and 142 influenza B). A positivity of 17.7% was seen in week 14, compared to 23.8% in week 13,
with the highest positivity in 5-14 year olds (25.0%). This is above the all-age threshold for 2015/16 season of 7.4%.
 Vaccination
o Up to week 04 2016 (31 January 2016) in 98.8% GP practices reporting weekly to Immform, the provisional proportion of
people in England who had received the 2015/16 influenza vaccine in targeted groups was as follows: 45.1% in under 65
years in a clinical risk group, 42.3% in pregnant women, 71.0% in 65+ year olds, 35.4% in all 2 year olds, 37.7% in all 3 year
olds and 30.1% in all 4 year olds.
o Provisional data from the fifth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show 50.8% were
vaccinated by 29 February 2016 from 96.6% of Trusts, compared to 54.9% vaccinated in the previous season by 28 February
2015. The report is available here.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake children of school years 1 and 2 age show the
proportion of children in England who received the 2015/16 live attenuated intranasal vaccine (LAIV) from 1 September 2015
to 31 January 2016 was as follows: 53.6% in children school year 1 age (5-6 years) and 52.1% in children school year 2 age
(6-7 years).
o WHO have published their recommendations for the composition of the 2016/17 northern hemisphere influenza vaccine.
 International situation
o Globally, influenza activity continued to be reported in the Northern Hemisphere with signs of peaking but remain above
baseline levels for most countries. A shift towards circulation of influenza B influenza virus has occurred.
...
- In week 14, eighty-eight new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (23 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 29
influenza A(unknown subtype), 1 influenza A(H3N2) and 35 influenza B) were reported across the UK (135/156 Trusts
in England) through the USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.20 per 100,000, compared to
0.32 in the previous week. Twelve new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported in week 14 2016. A total of
2,288 admissions (1,012 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 40 influenza A(H3N2), 982 influenza A (unknown subtype) and
254 influenza B) and 195 confirmed influenza deaths have been reported since week 40 2015.
...
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ly_national_influenza_report_week_15_2016.pdf

 

[Ronan Kelly]

PHE Weekly National Influenza Report
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal
respiratory illnesses
21 April 2016 ? Week 16 report (up to week 15 data)

Summary
In week 15 2016 (ending 17 April 2016), influenza activity continues to decrease but remains above baseline levels across
surveillance schemes. Updated guidance on antiviral prescribing in secondary care when influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 is the
dominant circulating strain has been published.
 Community influenza surveillance
o During week 15, there were continued decreases in a range of respiratory indicators across syndromic surveillance systems.
o Eleven new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past 7 days. 2 outbreaks were from schools where one
tested positive for influenza A(not subtyped). 4 outbreaks were from hospitals, where 2 tested positive for influenza A(not
subtyped), 1 for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 1 for influenza B. 3 outbreaks were from care homes where one tested positive
for influenza A(not subtyped). The remaining outbreak was from another setting, a nursery, where no test results were available.
 Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o In week 15, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultation rate has decreased further, but remains above the baseline
threshold in England (15.7 per 100,000). In the devolved administrations, the ILI rates for Scotland (13.5 per 100,000), Northern
Ireland (14.0 per 100,000) and Wales (4.4 per 100,000) have decreased in week 15.
o Through the GP In Hours surveillance system, GP consulations for ILI have continued to decrease across all age groups and
regions and are starting to approach seasonally expected levels.
 Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o Sixty-eight new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (17 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 13 influenza A(unknown
subtype) and 38 influenza B) were reported through the USISS mandatory ICU/HDU surveillance scheme across the UK (128
NHS Trusts in England) in week 15, a rate of 0.16 per 100,000, compared to 0.23 per 100,000 in week 14. Three new confirmed
influenza deaths were also reported through this scheme.
o Fifty-seven new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (13 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 8 influenza A(unknown subtype) and 36
influenza B) were reported through the USISS sentinel hospital network across England (20 NHS Trusts), a rate of 0.71 per
100,000 in week 15 compared to 1.65 per 100,000 the previous week.
o Since week 40, seventy-two confirmed influenza admissions have been reported (63 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 6 influenza
A(unknown subtype) and 3 influenza B) from the six Severe Respiratory Failure centres in the UK.
 All-cause mortality data
o Up to week 15 2016 in England, excess mortality by date of death was seen in 15-64 year olds from week 52 to 03, 05 to 07,
09 to 10; in <5 year olds in weeks 40,51 and 05, and 5-14 year olds in week 51 with the EuroMoMo algorithm. In the devolved
administrations, no significant excess was seen in week 15 2016.
 Microbiological surveillance
o Seventeen samples tested positive for influenza (2 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 15 influenza B) through GP sentinel
schemes across the UK, with an overall positivity of 23.0%, compared to 35.0% in the previous week.
o Two hundred and nine influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (51 A(H1N1)pdm09, 11
A(H3), 19 A(not subtyped) and 128 influenza B). A positivity of 13.6% was seen in week 15, compared to 18.4% in week 14,
with the highest positivity in 15-44 year olds (17.2%). This is above the all-age threshold for 2015/16 season of 7.4%.
 Vaccination
o Up to week 04 2016 (31 January 2016) in 98.8% GP practices reporting weekly to Immform, the provisional proportion of
people in England who had received the 2015/16 influenza vaccine in targeted groups was as follows: 45.1% in under 65
years in a clinical risk group, 42.3% in pregnant women, 71.0% in 65+ year olds, 35.4% in all 2 year olds, 37.7% in all 3 year
olds and 30.1% in all 4 year olds.
o Provisional data from the fifth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show 50.8% were
vaccinated by 29 February 2016 from 96.6% of Trusts, compared to 54.9% vaccinated in the previous season by 28 February
2015. The report is available here.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake children of school years 1 and 2 age show the
proportion of children in England who received the 2015/16 live attenuated intranasal vaccine (LAIV) from 1 September 2015
to 31 January 2016 was as follows: 53.6% in children school year 1 age (5-6 years) and 52.1% in children school year 2 age
(6-7 years).
o WHO have published their recommendations for the composition of the 2016/17 northern hemisphere influenza vaccine.
 International situation
o Globally, decreasing levels of influenza activity continued to be reported in the Northern Hemisphere but remain above
baseline levels for most countries. A shift towards circulation of influenza B influenza virus has occurred.
...
 Number of new admissions and fatal confirmed influenza cases in ICU/HDU (USISS mandatory ICU
scheme), UK (week 15)
- In week 15, sixty-eight new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (17 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 13
influenza A(unknown subtype) and 38 influenza B) were reported across the UK (128/156 Trusts in England) through
the USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.16 per 100,000, compared to 0.23 in the previous
week. Three new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported in week 15 2016. A total of 2,380 admissions (1,033
influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 41 influenza A(H3N2), 1,008 influenza A (unknown subtype) and 298 influenza B) and 200
confirmed influenza deaths have been reported since week 40 2015.
...
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ly_national_influenza_report_week_16_2016.pdf

 

[Ronan Kelly]

PHE Weekly National Influenza Report
Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal
respiratory illnesses
28 April 2016 ? Week 17 report (up to week 16 data)
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ly_national_influenza_report_week_17_2016.pdf

Summary
In week 16 2016 (ending 24 April 2016), influenza activity continues to decrease and has reached or nearing the expected
baseline levels across surveillance schemes. Updated guidance on antiviral prescribing in secondary care when influenza
A(H1N1)pdm09 is the dominant circulating strain has been published.
 Community influenza surveillance
o During week 16, there were continued decreases in a range of respiratory indicators across all syndromic surveillance systems,
with influenza activity now at seasonally expected levels.
o Nine new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in the past 7 days. 2 outbreaks were from schools where no test
results were available. 1 outbreak was reported from a hospital which tested positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. 5 outbreaks
were from care homes where 2 tested positive for influenza A(not subtyped). The remaining outbreak was from the other
settings category (an intermediate care centre) where no test results were available.
 Overall weekly influenza GP consultation rates across the UK
o In week 16, overall weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultation rate has decreased further, and is now below the baseline
threshold in England (8.6 per 100,000). In the devolved administrations, the ILI rate for Scotland has decreased (7.6 per
100,000), whereas the ILI rates for Wales (6.7 per 100,000) and Northern Ireland (15.6 per 100,000) have remained similar to
the previous week.
o Through the GP In Hours surveillance system, GP consulations for ILI have continued to decrease across all age groups and
regions and at seasonally expected levels.
 Influenza-confirmed hospitalisations
o Twenty-nine new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (4 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 9 influenza A(unknown
subtype) and 16 influenza B) were reported through the USISS mandatory ICU/HDU surveillance scheme across the UK (138
NHS Trusts in England) in week 16, a rate of 0.07 per 100,000, compared to 0.14 per 100,000 in week 15. Two new confirmed
influenza deaths were also reported through this scheme.
o Forty-five new hospitalised confirmed influenza cases (3 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 3 influenza A(unknown subtype) and 39
influenza B) were reported through the USISS sentinel hospital network across England (21 NHS Trusts), a rate of 0.54 per
100,000 in week 16 compared to 0.78 per 100,000 the previous week.
o Since week 40, seventy-three confirmed influenza admissions have been reported (63 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 6 influenza
A(unknown subtype) and 4 influenza B) from the six Severe Respiratory Failure centres in the UK.
 All-cause mortality data
o Up to week 16 2016 in England, excess mortality by date of death was seen in 15-64 year olds from week 52 to 03, 05 to 07,
09 to 10 and <5 year olds in weeks 40 and 05 with the EuroMoMo algorithm. In the devolved administrations, no significant
excess was seen in week 16 2016.
 Microbiological surveillance
o Fourteen samples tested positive for influenza (2 influenza A(untyped), 1 influenza A(H3N2) and 11 influenza B) through GP
sentinel schemes across the UK, with an overall positivity of 20.9%, compared to 24.3% in the previous week.
o One hundred and twenty-seven influenza positive detections were recorded through the DataMart scheme (15
A(H1N1)pdm09, 5 A(H3), 14 A(not subtyped) and 93 influenza B). A positivity of 9.9% was seen in week 16, compared to
13.0% in week 15, with the highest positivity in 15-44 year olds (14.0%). This is above the all-age threshold for 2015/16
season of 7.4%.
 Vaccination
o Up to week 04 2016 (31 January 2016) in 98.8% GP practices reporting weekly to Immform, the provisional proportion of
people in England who had received the 2015/16 influenza vaccine in targeted groups was as follows: 45.1% in under 65
years in a clinical risk group, 42.3% in pregnant women, 71.0% in 65+ year olds, 35.4% in all 2 year olds, 37.7% in all 3 year
olds and 30.1% in all 4 year olds.
o Provisional data from the fifth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show 50.8% were
vaccinated by 29 February 2016 from 96.6% of Trusts, compared to 54.9% vaccinated in the previous season by 28 February
...
 Number of new admissions and fatal confirmed influenza cases in ICU/HDU (USISS mandatory ICU
scheme), UK (week 16)
- In week 16, twenty-nine new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (4 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 9
influenza A(unknown subtype) and 16 influenza B) were reported across the UK (138/156 Trusts in England) through
the USISS mandatory ICU scheme (Figures 6 and 7), a rate of 0.07 per 100,000, compared to 0.14 in the previous
week. Two new confirmed influenza deaths were also reported in week 16 2016. A total of 2,412 admissions (1,038
influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 41 influenza A(H3N2), 1,017 influenza A (unknown subtype) and 316 influenza B) and 203
confirmed influenza deaths have been reported since week 40 2015.
...

2015. The report is available here.
o Provisional data from the fourth monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake children of school years 1 and 2 age show the
proportion of children in England who received the 2015/16 live attenuated intranasal vaccine (LAIV) from 1 September 2015
to 31 January 2016 was as follows: 53.6% in children school year 1 age (5-6 years) and 52.1% in children school year 2 age
(6-7 years).
o WHO have published their recommendations for the composition of the 2016/17 northern hemisphere influenza vaccine.
 International situation
o Globally, decreasing levels of influenza activity continued to be reported in the Northern Hemisphere but remain above
baseline levels for most countries. A shift towards circulation of influenza B influenza virus has occurred.