The ECDC Influenza Virus Characterisations Reports are published periodically and provides an overview of the technical details of the circulating influenza viruses, such as antigenic and genetic properties, with a reference to the current vaccine strains. It also summaries the developments of the viruses since the last report, as well as the main developments for the ongoing season.
This is the third report of the 2017–18 influenza season. As of week 8/2018 over 151 000 influenza detections across the WHO European Region have been reported. Types A and B viruses have been detected in the proportions 40% and 60%, respectively, with A(H3N2) being slightly more prevalent than A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses (1.1:1) and B/Yamagata being significantly more prevalent than B/Victoria viruses (45.8:1).
This external quality assessment (EQA) to assess the ability of national reference laboratories from EU/EEA Member States to correctly perform laboratory serodiagnostic tests for pertussis was a collaborative study organised from February to April 2016.
In order to explore whether the current capacity for EU/EEA-wide molecular characterisation for surveillance of HBV and HCV is sufficient to be feasible and what gaps need to be addressed, a survey of EU/EEA Member States was conducted to assess their laboratory capacity and needs in relation to the molecular characterisation of hepatitis B and C.
This is the second report of the 2017–18 influenza season. As of week 1/2018, nearly 37 000 influenza detections across the WHO European Region have been reported.