Unusually high impact of influenza B during the early 2012-2013 influenza season in Wales - epidemiology and clinical analysis of the first 100 cases

[tetano]

Influenza Other Respi Viruses. 2013 Sep 4. doi: 10.1111/irv.12151. [Epub ahead of print]
Unusually high impact of influenza B during the early 2012-2013 influenza season in Wales - epidemiology and clinical analysis of the first 100 cases.
Cottrell SL, Moore C, Dexter L, Thomas DR, Salmon RL.
Source

Public Health Wales Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Health Protection Division, Public Health Wales NHS Trust, Temple of Peace and Health, Cardiff, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:

Influenza B is often regarded as the milder form of the disease. The early 2012-2013 season in Wales saw the highest rate of influenza B-associated primary care consultations since 1994-1995 and considerable hospitalisations.
OBJECTIVES:

This report summarises features of the first 100 confirmed cases during 2012-2013 in Wales.
METHODS:

Case information was sourced from routine laboratory testing and virological surveillance.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

Influenza B (Yamagata lineage) viruses dominated, mainly affecting younger adults, admission to critical care was unexpectedly common. Low vaccine uptake amongst at-risk patients may have contributed to the burden of influenza in secondary care in Wales.

? 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
KEYWORDS:

Influenza, Wales, influenza B, severity, surveillance

PMID:
24034594
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24034594