Influenza surveillance in Europe 2008/2009

This report presents and analyses data collected via a variety of surveillance methods to provide a comprehensive epidemiological overview of influenza in the EU and other EEA countries for the 2008/09 season.
It includes syndromic surveillance data on influenza-like illness and acute respiratory tract infections; virological surveillance of the circulating influenza strains; and surveillance of the 2009 pandemic.
Given the emergence of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1), the period of reporting was extended to cover a full year. It therefore provides an analysis of the situation from week 40 of 2008 to week 39 of 2009.