Weekly influenza surveillance overview, December 21, 2012 - Week 50

Weekly influenza surveillance in Europe for the season 2012–2013 started in week 40/2012. In week 49, ECDC announced that the season of influenza transmission had begun. During week 50/2012, all countries reporting experienced low intensity of influenza-like illness or acute respiratory infection. Sporadic geographic spread was reported by fourteen countries and the UK (Northern Ireland). However, increasing trends in clinical activity were indicated by nine countries. No hospitalised severe influenza cases were reported in week 50/2012. Influenza activity is evident in some EU/EEA countries based on the increasing proportion of positive specimens and sporadic spread over the last three weeks, but the circulation of influenza viruses is not generalised in the community.