Weekly influenza surveillance overview, week 9 2014

​For week 9/2014:
• Of the 30 countries providing clinical data, Greece and Finland reported high-intensity influenza activity, 10 reported medium intensity, and 18 countries reported low-intensity influenza activity.
• Of the 1 152 sentinel specimens tested across 24 countries, 394 (34%) were positive for influenza virus, representing a decrease in the proportion of positive specimens for the sixth consecutive week.
• Seven countries reported 227 hospitalised, laboratory-confirmed influenza cases of which 100, mainly infected by A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).

Based on the various indicators for the influenza season, the status of the season varies considerably between EU/EEA Member States. Some countries are experiencing decreasing influenza activity while six countries still reported increasing and high ILI/ARI rates. Influenza A(H1)pdm09 and A(H3) viruses are co-circulating in outpatient settings; however, A(H1)pdm09 is predominant in hospitalised cases. Influenza B viruses have been detected only rarely.