Seasonal influenza - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2013-14 season
The 2013–14 influenza season was mild and dominated by influenza A viruses, with a co-circulation of A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses in most countries.
Executive Summary
Only a few countries reported widespread influenza transmission and high influenza intensity during the season although the percentage of influenza-positive sentinel specimens was above 10% over 20 weeks.
A total of 430 deaths due to influenza were reported by the five countries that report data for severe influenza to ECDC. Infections with A(H1N1)pdm09 were detected in 249 (58%) of the 430 cases with a fatal outcome, mostly in persons 40 years of age and older.
None of the characterised viruses differed substantially from the current vaccine viruses recommended by WHO, and only a few viruses showed antiviral resistance.
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Summary of the influenza 2013–2014 season in Europe
Active circulation of influenza has started late in Europe in the 2013-2014 season, with a different timing across EU/EEA countries, states the annual ECDC risk assessment on seasonal influenza. The first countries affected have been Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal and Spain, where the A(H1)pdm09 influenza virus has dominated. Without any specific geographic pattern, influenza activity has since spread rapidly across Europe. In Bulgaria, Portugal and Spain, the season peaked in weeks 4 and 5/2014, while influenza activity still continues to increase in Greece.
