Weekly influenza surveillance overview January 14, 2011 - Week 1

 
Most countries are now reporting regional or widespread influenza activity, with medium to high influenza-like illness/acute respiratory infection (ILI/ARI) consultation rates and increasing trends. This is more prominent in Western European countries.
 
 
Forty-three per cent of sentinel swabs tested positive for influenza: 71% were type A, and of the type A viruses subtyped, 97% were A(H1N1) 2009.
 
 
Since week 40/2010, 1148 severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases, including 37 fatal cases, have been reported by seven countries.
 
 
In addition to the UK, other countries are now reporting cases requiring higher level care and deaths in young adults associated with influenza infection. Most are with A(H1N1) 2009 virus, but some are with B viruses as well.