TrueScotsman
Well-known member
Source: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1262704993878?p=1259152466069
Weekly pandemic flu media update
NOTE: The HPA will no longer be producing a weekly pandemic flu media update. Should the position change in relation to the course of the pandemic then the updates will be resumed.
Information on the agency's surveillance of flu and other respiratory illnesses will be available in the routine HPA National Influenza Report, produced weekly by the agency and available on its website at www.hpa.org.uk
--------------------
KEY POINTS
A small increase in the rate of flu-like illness in England has been reported this week. The rate remains low and well within the baseline zone. Any increase should be interpreted with caution, however, as flu indicators may have been influenced by the holiday period in recent weeks.
The consultation rate for flu-like illness in England from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) scheme has increased to 19.9 per 100,000 in week 01 compared to 11.2 in week 53. This is below the English baseline threshold of 30/100,000.
In week 01 overall weekly numbers showed a slight decrease in the number of assessments, antiviral authorisations and collections through the National Pandemic Flu Service. Rates remain very similar across all regions.
A more detailed UK weekly epidemiology update can be accessed at:
www.hpa.org.uk/swineflu/surveillance&epidemiology
CLINICAL INDICATORS
Clinical data are obtained from GP surgeries that report the weekly and daily consultations for flu-like illness and other acute respiratory illness.
Current estimated weekly Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) consultation rates of flu-like illness
From a network of approximately 100 general practices covering a population of approximately 900,000 with an equal distribution within each of three defined reporting regions; North, Central and South.
In week 01 GP consultation rates for flu-like illness in England have increased compared to the previous week (11.2 per 100,000 in week 53 to 19.9 per 100,000 in week 01). This remains below the English baseline threshold of 30 per 100,000.
Figure 1: Current estimated weekly RCGP consultation rates of flu-like illness
Figure 2: QSurveillance? - weekly consultation rate for flu-like illness in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (all ages)
Figure 3: QSurveillance? - weekly consultation rate for influenza-like illness by English SHA (all ages)
Figure 4: QSurveillance influenza-like illness rate by age band in week 01 (ending 10 January)
The latest weekly flu-like illness rates show that rates have increased in all age bands. However, rates in weeks 52 and 53 will have been influenced by the holiday period so any increase here should be interpreted with caution. The highest flu-like illness consultation rates remain in the <1 year age band.
VIRAL CHARACTERISTICS
To date (as of 13 January 2010) 4,707 viruses have been analysed by the HPA Centre for Infections for the genetic marker commonly associated with resistance to oseltamivir in seasonal H1N1 flu (H274Y). 34 viruses have been found to carry this marker in the UK with three of these, through additional testing, showing evidence of resistance when viral growth is tested in the presence of oseltamivir. These viruses are still sensitive to zanamivir. In addition, 293 specimens have been fully tested for susceptibility to antivirals.
Information on medical history was available for 25 cases, 23 of whom had an underlying medical condition: 18 were immunosuppressed and the remaining five had other underlying illnesses. Probable person to person transmission has occurred in an outbreak in a hospital ward.
The agency is continually assessing its advice to government on health protection policies such as antiviral use. Currently there is no requirement to change existing guidance.
There have been no significant changes in the virus.
SEVERITY
Disease severity continues to be monitored. The disease is generally mild in most people so far, but is proving severe in a small minority of cases.
Swine flu hospitalisations in England: 268 patients (currently hospitalised as of 8am on 13 January).
Deaths - the number of deaths related to swine flu in England will be provided in the Department of Health's fortnightly bulletin, the first of which will be issued on Thursday 21 January.
INTERNATIONAL SUMMARY
Confirmed global deaths reported by ECDC (Update 09:00 CEST 12 January 2010)
Total deaths reported 13,938
In the last 7 days, the total number of deaths reported globally has increased by 4.6% on the previous week.
North America: Flu activity has continued to decline or remain low in all countries. In Canada, rates of flu-like illness have now dropped below the historical seasonal baseline.
Europe: intense virus circulation has continued in several countries of central, eastern, and south-eastern Europe - particularly in Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia. In most of western and northern Europe, rates of flu-like illness and acute respiratory infection have continued to decline substantially, and, in many places, have returned to near seasonal baselines.
Central and western Asia: in Central Asia, there is evidence of declining rates of flu-like illness and acute respiratory infection while in West Asia limited data suggest that, although flu transmission remains active, rates may have peaked.
Eastern and southern Asia: in South Asia, pandemic flu transmission remains geographically widespread and active across the subcontinent, particularly in northern India, Nepal, and in Sri Lanka, where an increasing trend in respiratory diseases activity was reported. In South East Asia, flu transmission remains geographically regional to widespread; however, overall flu activity appears to be low but variable. Localised increases in flu-like illness have been reported in parts of Thailand over the past three weeks. In East Asia, flu transmission remains widespread and active but appears to be declining except in Mongolia where a slight increase in rates of flu-like illness was reported again.
Tropical regions: in the tropical regions of America and the Caribbean overall pandemic flu activity continued to decline or remain low.
Temperate southern hemisphere region: sporadic cases of pandemic flu continued to be reported without evidence of sustained community transmission.
More information on the latest global situation can be found on the WHO website at: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_01_08/en/index.html
Weekly pandemic flu media update
NOTE: The HPA will no longer be producing a weekly pandemic flu media update. Should the position change in relation to the course of the pandemic then the updates will be resumed.
Information on the agency's surveillance of flu and other respiratory illnesses will be available in the routine HPA National Influenza Report, produced weekly by the agency and available on its website at www.hpa.org.uk
--------------------
KEY POINTS
A small increase in the rate of flu-like illness in England has been reported this week. The rate remains low and well within the baseline zone. Any increase should be interpreted with caution, however, as flu indicators may have been influenced by the holiday period in recent weeks.
The consultation rate for flu-like illness in England from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) scheme has increased to 19.9 per 100,000 in week 01 compared to 11.2 in week 53. This is below the English baseline threshold of 30/100,000.
In week 01 overall weekly numbers showed a slight decrease in the number of assessments, antiviral authorisations and collections through the National Pandemic Flu Service. Rates remain very similar across all regions.
A more detailed UK weekly epidemiology update can be accessed at:
www.hpa.org.uk/swineflu/surveillance&epidemiology
CLINICAL INDICATORS
Clinical data are obtained from GP surgeries that report the weekly and daily consultations for flu-like illness and other acute respiratory illness.
Current estimated weekly Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) consultation rates of flu-like illness
From a network of approximately 100 general practices covering a population of approximately 900,000 with an equal distribution within each of three defined reporting regions; North, Central and South.
In week 01 GP consultation rates for flu-like illness in England have increased compared to the previous week (11.2 per 100,000 in week 53 to 19.9 per 100,000 in week 01). This remains below the English baseline threshold of 30 per 100,000.
Figure 1: Current estimated weekly RCGP consultation rates of flu-like illness
Figure 2: QSurveillance? - weekly consultation rate for flu-like illness in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (all ages)
Figure 3: QSurveillance? - weekly consultation rate for influenza-like illness by English SHA (all ages)
Figure 4: QSurveillance influenza-like illness rate by age band in week 01 (ending 10 January)
The latest weekly flu-like illness rates show that rates have increased in all age bands. However, rates in weeks 52 and 53 will have been influenced by the holiday period so any increase here should be interpreted with caution. The highest flu-like illness consultation rates remain in the <1 year age band.
VIRAL CHARACTERISTICS
To date (as of 13 January 2010) 4,707 viruses have been analysed by the HPA Centre for Infections for the genetic marker commonly associated with resistance to oseltamivir in seasonal H1N1 flu (H274Y). 34 viruses have been found to carry this marker in the UK with three of these, through additional testing, showing evidence of resistance when viral growth is tested in the presence of oseltamivir. These viruses are still sensitive to zanamivir. In addition, 293 specimens have been fully tested for susceptibility to antivirals.
Information on medical history was available for 25 cases, 23 of whom had an underlying medical condition: 18 were immunosuppressed and the remaining five had other underlying illnesses. Probable person to person transmission has occurred in an outbreak in a hospital ward.
The agency is continually assessing its advice to government on health protection policies such as antiviral use. Currently there is no requirement to change existing guidance.
There have been no significant changes in the virus.
SEVERITY
Disease severity continues to be monitored. The disease is generally mild in most people so far, but is proving severe in a small minority of cases.
Swine flu hospitalisations in England: 268 patients (currently hospitalised as of 8am on 13 January).
Deaths - the number of deaths related to swine flu in England will be provided in the Department of Health's fortnightly bulletin, the first of which will be issued on Thursday 21 January.
INTERNATIONAL SUMMARY
Confirmed global deaths reported by ECDC (Update 09:00 CEST 12 January 2010)
Total deaths reported 13,938
In the last 7 days, the total number of deaths reported globally has increased by 4.6% on the previous week.
North America: Flu activity has continued to decline or remain low in all countries. In Canada, rates of flu-like illness have now dropped below the historical seasonal baseline.
Europe: intense virus circulation has continued in several countries of central, eastern, and south-eastern Europe - particularly in Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia. In most of western and northern Europe, rates of flu-like illness and acute respiratory infection have continued to decline substantially, and, in many places, have returned to near seasonal baselines.
Central and western Asia: in Central Asia, there is evidence of declining rates of flu-like illness and acute respiratory infection while in West Asia limited data suggest that, although flu transmission remains active, rates may have peaked.
Eastern and southern Asia: in South Asia, pandemic flu transmission remains geographically widespread and active across the subcontinent, particularly in northern India, Nepal, and in Sri Lanka, where an increasing trend in respiratory diseases activity was reported. In South East Asia, flu transmission remains geographically regional to widespread; however, overall flu activity appears to be low but variable. Localised increases in flu-like illness have been reported in parts of Thailand over the past three weeks. In East Asia, flu transmission remains widespread and active but appears to be declining except in Mongolia where a slight increase in rates of flu-like illness was reported again.
Tropical regions: in the tropical regions of America and the Caribbean overall pandemic flu activity continued to decline or remain low.
Temperate southern hemisphere region: sporadic cases of pandemic flu continued to be reported without evidence of sustained community transmission.
More information on the latest global situation can be found on the WHO website at: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_01_08/en/index.html