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Weekly influenza activity in Wales report

Latest report: Public Health Wales Influenza Surveillance Report: Week 19 2013 [, 146kb]

Clinical consultation rate per 100,000 practice population in  Welsh sentinel practices (as of 15/05/13)  *Reporting through Audit+ commenced during 2010 week 40.

Key points: 

In Wales

• Week 19 clinical consultation rate for influenza, reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme, is 2.5 consultations per 100,000 practice population. 
• This is below the threshold for normal seasonal activity but has increased compared to the reported consultation rate for the previous week (2.2 per 100,000).
• The provisional consultation rate was highest in patients aged 15-24 years (6.5 per 100,000 population).
• Surveillance data suggest that influenza continues to circulate in the community.
• Use of antivirals for treatment and prohylaxis of influenza is now recommended in line with NICE guidance. For further information from NICE on antiviral use please see: http://guidance.nice.org.uk/TA168 (treatment) and http://guidance.nice.org.uk/TA158  (prophylaxis).

Virological surveillance update

• No samples were submitted for virological testing by sentinel GPs during week 19. Samples are routinely tested for influenza A, influenza B, RSV, rhinovirus, parainfluenza, adenovirus, mycoplasma and human metapneumovirus.
• Influenza B ((Yamagata lineage) has predominated in Wales this season and continues to circulate in low numbers. However, later in the season an increase in influenza A(H3) activity has led to a number of influenza outbreaks, there have also been sporadic detections of A(H1N1)pdm2009 in the community.

Influenza vaccine uptake update 

• Based on data from 96% of Welsh practices, reported through Audit+, as at 12/03/2013:
  • 67.8% of patients aged 65 years and over have been vaccinated against influenza (Health Board range 65.3% to 70.1%)
  • 50% of patients aged six months to 64 years in at-risk groups* have been vaccinated against influenza (HB range 45.3% to 52.3%)
  • 42% of pregnant women* have been vaccinated against influenza (HB range 30.2% to 51.5%)
  • Uptake in 16% of practices exceeded 75% in patients aged 65 years and older. 0.9% of practices exceeded 75% in patients aged 6 months to 64 years old. 
• 35.5% of NHS staff have been vaccinated against influenza (HB range 29.8% to 37.6%) based on data provided by Occupational Health Departments up to the end of March 2013. 

In the UK and Europe

• For week 18, influenza activity decreased in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. See summary data from Public Health England for more detail.
• For week 18, consultation rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) and/or acute respiratory infection (ARI) are at low levels throughout the WHO European Region. During week 18, a total of 342 specimens testing positive for influenza were reported to Euroflu: 118 (34%) influenza A (16 A(H1N1)pdm2009, 32 A(H3N2) and 70 not sub-typed) and 224 (66%) influenza B. See summary data from the WHO/EuroFlu surveillance scheme for more detail. 

World Overview

• The WHO reports that, as of 10/05/2013, the influenza season is coming to an end in much of North America, Europe and northern Asia.
• Increasing numbers of influenza type B virus are appearing late in the season in a number of countries of North America and Europe. Prior to this, influenza A(H3N2) was the most commonly detected virus in North America, A(H1N1)pdm09 in Europe, and both in varying proportions in different countries of northern Asia.
• Low levels of influenza activity continued to be reported across the tropical regions of the world and activity in countries of the southern hemisphere remained at inter-seasonal levels.
• Nearly all influenza A viruses characterized this season have been antigenically related to those contained in the current trivalent vaccine. Among the B viruses characterized, those that were of the Yamagata lineage were antigenically related to the viruses recommended for the trivalent vaccine but a sizable number of B viruses were also of the Victoria lineage. Only very low numbers of oseltamivir and zanamivir resistant viruses have been detected.
• Human infection with a new avian influenza A(H7N9) virus has been detected in China. As at 08/05/2012, a total of 131 cases have been laboratory confirmed with influenza A(H7N9) virus, including 32 deaths. Contacts of the confirmed cases are being closely monitored. The authorities in the affected areas continue to implement prevention and control measures. Investigations into the possible sources of infection and reservoirs of the virus are ongoing. Until the source of infection has been identified, it is expected that there will be further cases of human infection with the virus. So far, there is no evidence of ongoing human-to-human transmission. The risk of international spread of avian influenza A(H7N9) is considered to be probably low at present, however, it is important that clinicians are aware of the possibility of human infection with animal influenza in persons presenting with severe acute respiratory disease who have been to China recently. The World Health Organisation is following this event closely with the Chinese authorities and updates are available from the WHO Global Alert and Response website: http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/index.html
• Since the beginning of May to date, a total of 19 patients, including nine deaths have been reported from the outbreak primarily linked to a health care facility in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia. The government is conducting ongoing investigation into the outbreak. From September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a global total of 38 laboratory confirmed cases of human infection with nCoV, including 20 deaths. Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all member states to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns. Health care providers are advised to be vigilant among recent travellers returning from areas affected by the virus who develop severe SARI. Updates are available from the WHO Global Alert and Response website: http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/index.html

Download current report:   Public Health Wales Influenza Surveillance Report: Week 19 2013 [, 146kb]

Report Archive

Reports of influenza rates in the UK and Europe can also be obtained from the links below:

• Health Protection Agency (England and Wales)
• Health Protection Scotland
• Public Health Agency Northern Ireland
• Health Protection Surveillance Centre (Ireland)
• WHO/Europe influenza surveillance (EuroFlu)
• European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI)