EISS Weekly Report: Week 41, 2005
Low influenza activity in Europe
Summary: This is the first bulletin of the 2005-2006 influenza season. The intensity of clinical influenza activity is low in all parts of Europe. Increasing activity is reported in England South and Central and the Slovak Republic, but the incidence of influenza like illness is still at baseline levels. Between week 36 and week 41 three influenza A cases and two influenza B cases have been reported in Great Britain and one influenza A case in the Czech Republic. No human cases of influenza A(H5N1) have been reported in Europe.
Epidemiological and virological situation: Nineteen of the 22 networks that reported clinical data (see Background below) reported low intensity of clinical influenza activity (see table below), meaning that there is either no influenza activity detectable or influenza activity is at baseline levels (for explanation of intensity indicator click here). Except for England and the Slovak Republic, the influenza activity did not change compared to the previous week. England South and Central and the Slovak Republic reported an increasing intensity of influenza activity, whereas England North reported a declining intensity.
In all parts of Europe the geographic spread indicator “no activity” was reported (see table below), meaning that there is no evidence of influenza virus activity (for explanation geographic spread indicator click here).
The total number of respiratory specimens collected by sentinel physicians in week 41/2005 was 155. In addition, 453 non-sentinel specimens were analyzed. None of these sentinel and non-sentinel specimens were positive for influenza virus.
Comment: Based on data reported so far, the current level of clinical influenza activity in Europe is low (at baseline levels) and since week 36/2005 there were only sporadic laboratory confirmed influenza cases reported in Great Britain and the Czech Republic.
Among the respiratory specimens from sentinel and non-sentinel sources reported to EISS between week 36 and week 41 of 2005 (N=1,423), there were four laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A and two of influenza B. Two of the influenza A cases (week 38, unsubtyped) and the influenza B cases (week 39) were detected in Wales. The other influenza A cases were detected in England North and in the Czech Republic (week 40, unsubtyped).
As the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A(H5N1) has been detected in birds in Europe (Romania and Turkey) (click here), EISS has started collection of data on the detection of the A(H5N1) virus in humans as of 14 October 2005. Up to week 41/2005 no human cases have been reported in Europe.
Background: The Weekly Electronic Bulletin presents and comments influenza activity in 25 European countries (28 networks) that are members of the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS). In week 41/2005, 22 networks reported clinical data and 21 networks reported virological data to EISS. The spread of influenza virus strains and their epidemiological impact in Europe is being carefully monitored by EISS in collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Centre in London, UK.
Other bulletins: To view national/regional bulletins in Europe and other bulletins from around the world, please click here. For a weekly update on the global situation of influenza A(H5N1), please click here.
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Map
The map presents the intensity of influenza activity and the geographical spread as assessed by each of the networks in EISS.
Clicking on the map will, if available, take you through to the national web site. If ´regional´ activity is reported, a pop-up text box will appear which describes the activity in greater detail.
Clicking on England and France will provide you with regional data.
A = Dominant virus A
H1N1 = Dominant virus A(H1N1)
H3N2 = Dominant virus A(H3N2)
H1N2 = Dominant virus A(H1N2)
B = Dominant virus B
A & B = Dominant virus A & B
= : stable clinical activity
+ : increasing clinical activity
- : decreasing clinical activity
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Low = no influenza activity or influenza at baseline levels
Medium = usual levels of influenza activity
High = higher than usual levels of influenza activity
Very high = particularly severe levels of influenza activity
No activity = no evidence of influenza virus activity (clinical activity remains at baseline levels)
Sporadic = isolated cases of laboratory confirmed influenza infection
Local outbreak = increased influenza activity in local areas (e.g. a city) within a region,
or outbreaks in two or more institutions (e.g. schools) within a region. Laboratory confirmed.
Regional activity = influenza activity above baseline levels in one or more regions with
a population comprising less than 50% of the country´s total population. Laboratory confirmed.
Widespread = influenza activity above baseline levels in one or more regions with a population
comprising 50% or more of the country´s population. Laboratory confirmed.
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Network comments (where available)
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Latvia
No influenza activity
Switzerland
no influenza virus detected in Switzerland since the beginning of the surveillance.
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Table and graphs (where available)
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