Weekly influenza surveillance overview, week 41 2013

•     During week 41/2013, all 24 reporting countries experienced low-intensity influenza activity and geographic spread was reported as local or sporadic by four countries and the UK (Scotland).
•     Of 220 sentinel specimens collected by 16 countries, one (0.5%) tested positive for influenza virus A.
•     Since week 40/2013, three hospitalised laboratory-confirmed influenza cases have been reported by Ireland and the UK.

During the two first weeks of the 2013–2014 influenza surveillance season, influenza activity in Europe has remained at inter-season levels.