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Influenza update

10 May 2013 - Update number 185

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Summary

• The influenza season is gradually coming to an end with inter seasonal levels seen in much of North America, Europe, and northern Asia though low level persistent transmission was still observed in a few countries.
• The persistence of transmission at low levels in the northern hemisphere temperate regions has been associated with increasing numbers of influenza type B virus appearing late in the season across North America and parts of Europe. Prior to this, influenza A(H3N2) was the most commonly detected virus in North America, A(H1N1)pdm09 in Europe, and both in varying proportions in different countries of northern Asia.
•Low levels of influenza activity continued to be reported across the tropical regions of the world and activity in countries of the southern hemisphere remained at inter-seasonal levels.
• The majority of influenza A viruses characterized so far this season have been antigenically related to those contained in the current trivalent vaccine. Among the B viruses characterized, those that were of the Yamagata lineage were antigenically related to the viruses recommended for the trivalent vaccine. Although 10-30% of reported B viruses were of the Victoria lineage. Only very low numbers of oseltamivir and zanamivir resistant viruses have been detected so far this season.
• In China, new cases of H7N9 have been reported with 131 cases and 32 deaths to date, for more information see link below:
• A summary review of the Northern Hemisphere influenza season is expected to be published in the World Epidemiological Report on 31 May 2013.

• -Full version Epidemiological influenza surveillance update
  pdf, 910kb

• - Information on H7N9

• - Virological influenza surveillance update

Source of data

The Global Influenza Programme monitors influenza activity worldwide and publishes an update every two weeks.
The updates are based on available epidemiological and virological data sources, including FluNet (reported by the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System) and influenza reports from WHO Regional Offices and Member States. Completeness can vary among updates due to availability and quality of data available at the time when the update is developed.