Weekly influenza surveillance overview, April 12, 2013 - Week 14

Surveillance report

12 April 2013

The weekly/bi-weekly influenza surveillance overview is a collection of timely and relevant information regarding influenza activity in Europe. It provides key statistical data on a variety of issues including the following: sentinel surveillance of influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness; virological surveillance; hospitalised laboratory-confirmed influenza cases; mortality surveillance and qualitative reporting. An up-to-date report is available on Fridays.

Executive Summary

In all reporting countries, influenza activity continued to decline or had already returned to baseline levels. After more than three months of active transmission, a long period compared to other years, the 2012–13 influenza season is waning and getting close to its end.

Of the 29 countries reporting for week 14/2013, 23 countries indicated low intensity transmission, and all countries reported decreasing or stable trends. No country reported high intensity.Virological surveillance shows that the proportion of influenza-positive sentinel specimens (35%) has continued to decrease since the peak observed in week 5/2013 (61%), with a considerably lower number of specimens tested.

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 has been 63%.

The monthly report on Influenza virus characterisation for Europe is now available for March 2013 and provides information on influenza viruses detected in ECDC-affiliated countries during the 2012–13 season.

Publication file

130412_SUR_Weekly_Influenza_Surveillance_Overview.pdf

English (1.28 MB - PDF)

Download