Weekly influenza surveillance overview, week 1, 2014

​For week 1/2014:
• Of the 29 reporting countries, 28 reported low-intensity influenza activity while Spain reported medium intensity.
• Of 305 sentinel specimens tested across 24 countries, 70 (23%) from 11 countries were positive for influenza virus.
• The viruses circulating this season remain well-matched with the 2013/14 seasonal vaccine viruses.
• Thirty-six hospitalised laboratory-confirmed influenza cases were reported by Ireland, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Based on reports of widespread, local or sporadic spread from the majority of countries and the increasing proportion of specimens testing positive for influenza virus across 11 countries, which is indicative of influenza transmission, the season appears to be slowly getting started in EU/EEA countries.