Influenza activity has continued to increase in week 2/2013 across Europe, with reports of severe cases from a number of countries - see Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview, Week 2, 2013.
Nineteen European countries have reported increasing trend of influenza transmission. Medium or high intensity of influenza transmission is reported by fourteen countries. Higher transmission is mostly occurring in the north west of Europe, as shown in latest influenza maps.
Virological surveillance for the period shows that of the 1238 sentinel specimens tested in week 2, 42% (521) were positive for influenza virus. This relatively high percentage is similar what was seen in the two previous weeks.
Since week 40/2012, of all influenza virus detections in sentinel specimens, 47% were type A and 53% were type B viruses. Of influenza A viruses subtyped, 48% were A(H3) and 52% were A(H1). The virological pattern seen in Europe is different from that being reported in North America where A(H3) viruses are dominant.
Since week 40/2012, 383 hospitalised laboratory-confirmed influenza cases have been reported.
ECDC continues to monitor and report influenza activity in Europe on weekly basis throughout the season.
Resources:
Influenza A(H1N1)v;Seasonal Influenza;Influenza;Influenza;