Influenza levels in Ireland Week 9 2014

Update by Dr J Gallagher, Employment Health Advisors (EHA):

Influenza activity remained at elevated levels in Ireland during week 9 2014, with continuing reports of confirmed influenza hospital and ICU admissions and outbreaks. Influenza A(H3) is the predominant virus circulating, and is co-circulating with influenza A(H1)pdm09. The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was 53.6 per 100,000 population during week 9 2014, a slight increase compared to the updated rate of 50.5 per 100,000 during week 8 2014. ILI rates remain above the Irish baseline threshold (21.0 per 100,000 population), for the fourth consecutive week. The highest age specific ILI rates during week 9 2014 were in the 5-14 year age group. Influenza positivity decreased during week 9 2014, with 118 (26.3%) influenza positive specimens reported from the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL): 74 influenza A(H3), 36 influenza A(H1)pdm09 and 8 influenza A (not subtyped). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) positivity reported from the NVRL during week 9 2014 was at low levels. Ninety-four confirmed influenza hospitalised cases were reported to HPSC during week 9 2014, bringing the total number of hospitalised cases reported this season to 285. The highest age specific rates for confirmed influenza cases admitted to hospital were in those aged less than 1 year and those aged 65 years and over. Sixteen influenza-associated deaths were reported to HPSC to date this season. Four acute respiratory outbreaks were reported to HPSC during week 9 2014 (via Ireland’s Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting System), all in residential care facilities/long stay units/community hospitals. Influenza activity remains diverse within Europe; some countries are experiencing decreasing influenza activity while others have not yet reached an epidemic peak. Influenza A(H1)pdm09 and A(H3) viruses are co-circulating in outpatient settings; however, influenza A(H1)pdm09 is predominant in hospitalised cases in Europe.