Surveillance for seasonal influenza
ECDC collects epidemiological and virological data from the EU/EEA Member States. The surveillance data reported comes largely from sentinel influenza surveillance systems, which cover a subset of the population in each country. Some countries conduct universal influenza surveillance, meaning that all cases meeting the relevant case definition are reported. Several countries also conduct surveillance of hospitalised cases. A sample of cases is also tested to determine virus characteristics.
The weekly surveillance of seasonal influenza is complemented by epidemic intelligence activities at ECDC, which encompass monitoring of official and unofficial sources on outbreaks and other influenza-related developments.
See the latest surveillance data
Surveillance reports and protocols
This infographic summarises the situation in the EU Member States. It is published weekly during the influenza season.
Technical guidance
Reporting protocols provide guidelines on how to prepare data for submission to The European Surveillance System (TESSy). All pertinent deadlines are listed, and recent changes to the metadata summarised. The following reporting protocols are relevant for the reporting of seasonal influenza:
Reporting protocols
Archive
The Weekly Electronic Bulletin was written by the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme Co-ordination Centre from the 2003–04 to the 2008–09 season. If you like to read the weekly electronic bulletins, please get in contact with webmaster
ecdc [dot] europa [dot] eu (webmaster[at]ecdc[dot]europa[dot]eu).
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Objectives for surveillance at EU level
The specific goal of influenza surveillance is to provide timely and high-quality data and viral isolates.
The clinical surveillance of influenza in the European Influenza Surveillance Network (EISN) is generally based on reports made by sentinel general practitioners.
Indicators of influenza activity
Indicators of influenza activity
Global influenza surveillance and virus sharing
The Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), led by WHO, is used for the international virological and epidemiological surveillance of human influenza.
Partners and networks working with influenza prevention and control.
Related content
Case definitions for each infectious disease covered by EU surveillance, as published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
The network combines epidemiological and virological surveillance of influenza.