Weekly influenza surveillance overview, week 2 2014
• Of the 30 reporting countries, four (Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal and Spain) reported medium intensity of influenza and Portugal, Spain and the UK (England) reported geographically widespread activity.
• Of 842 sentinel specimens tested across 25 countries, 217 (26%) from 16 countries were positive for influenza virus.
• Bulgaria, Greece, Spain and the UK (Scotland) reported influenza A(H1)pdm09 virus as the dominant subtype.
• Ireland, Romania, Spain, and Sweden reported 97 hospitalised laboratory-confirmed influenza cases.
Based on reports of geographically widespread ILI activity in three countries and the growing number of countries with an increasing proportion of specimens testing positive for influenza virus, which is an indicator of influenza transmission, the season has now started in EU/EEA countries.
Executive Summary
The season of active influenza transmission has started in Europe, concludes the latest Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview covering 6-12 January 2014. There is still time to protect yourself and others from the flu by getting vaccinated.
Of the 30 EU/EEA countries reporting, four countries - Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal and Spain - report medium intensity influenza. Portugal, Spain and the UK (England) report geographically widespread influenza activity. Bulgaria, Greece, Spain and the UK (Scotland) report influenza A(H1)pdm09 virus as the dominant subtype.
Virological surveillance for the period shows that of the 842 sentinel specimens tested across 25 countries, 26% (217) from 16 countries were positive for influenza virus. Of these 217 influenza viruses, 215 were type A and two were type B. Of the subtyped influenza A viruses, 62% were A(H1)pdm09 and 38% were A(H3).
Influenza should be taken seriously
Influenza, or the flu, comes to Europe every winter. Each year, around 10% of the population are infected. Influenza-related complications cause many cases of severe disease and hospitalisations all across Europe. Older people as well as those with chronic conditions suffer the most, but even healthy young people are at risk of developing serious complications, which can sometimes be fatal.
Protect yourself and others
We can reduce the risk of getting influenza or transmitting it to others by a number of preventive measures:
• Get vaccinated against the flu, as this is the most effective way to protect from the flu
• Apply good hand hygiene and wash hands often
• Do not cough or sneeze on other people
• Limit contact with other people if you are sick
For more information, watch this ECDC video on how to protect from the influenza.
Still time to get vaccinated
The single most effective way to protect yourself as well as those around you is by getting vaccinated against the flu. It is still not too late in the season to get vaccinated. Influenza vaccination is of particular importance for those in the recognised risk groups and for healthcare workers, as it protects their vulnerable patients as well as themselves.
ECDC will continue to monitor and report influenza activity in Europe on weekly basis throughout the season.
Weekly influenza surveillance overview, week 2 2014
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