Fortnightly influenza surveillance overview, 24 May 2013 - weeks 19-20/2013

Surveillance report
Weekly reporting on influenza surveillance in Europe for the 2012–13 season started in week 40/2012 and reverted to fortnightly reporting after week 16/2013. Active influenza transmission began around week 49/2012, with ILI/ARI rates peaking in almost all countries between weeks 52/2012 and 8/2013.• For weeks 19 and 20/2013, all 25 participating countries reported low-intensity transmission, doing so for the fourth consecutive week.• The proportion of influenza-positive sentinel specimens (5%) has continued to decrease since the peak observed in week 5/2013 (61%).• Since week 40/2012, 47% of sentinel surveillance specimens testing positive for influenza virus have been type A and 53% type B. Of the influenza A viruses subtyped, the proportion of A(H1)pdm09 viruses was 62%.The 2012–13 influenza season is now over.

Executive Summary

For four consecutive weeks, all reporting European countries have experienced low-intensity influenza activity. This marks the end of the influenza season 2012-2013 in Europe, concludes the Fortnightly Influenza Surveillance Overview for weeks 19-20.

Virological surveillance shows that the proportion of influenza-positive sentinel specimens (5%) has continued to decrease since the peak observed in week 5/2013 (61%).

Since week 40/2012, 47% of sentinel surveillance specimens testing positive for influenza virus have been type A and 53% type B. Of the influenza A viruses subtyped, the proportion of A(H1)pdm09 viruses was 62%.

The new seasonal influenza communication toolkit is now available on ECDC website. It contains campaign materials that can be adapted and reused for national communication initiatives, in preparation for the next influenza season.

Publication file

influenza-fortnightly-surveillance-overview-24-may-2013.pdf

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