UK Swine Flu Update

The overall number of severely ill patients with confirmed or suspected flu in critical care has reduced.

As at 13 January 2011, there were 661 patients with confirmed or suspected influenza in NHS critical care beds in England – these patients occupied 19 % of available critical care beds nationally.

http://winterwatch.dh.gov.uk/health-data-13-jan-2011/


Summary
GP and school closures over the Christmas/New Year period will have affected surveillance indicators so all data should be interpreted with caution. Indeed, several influenza indicators have apparently plateaued. GP consultation rates remain above baseline levels in all four countries. Influenza A H1N1 (2009) and B are the predominant circulating viruses with few, sporadic A (H3N2) viruses detected. The H1N1 (2009) virus strain is virologically and epidemiologically similar to that seen during the pandemic. The virus strains circulating are overall well matched to the current influenza vaccine.

In week 1 (ending 9 January), the weekly influenza/influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rates increased in England (108.4 per 100,000), Scotland (55.8 per 100,000), Wales (92.8 per 100,000) and Northern Ireland (274.4 per 100,000). The weekly national proportions of NHS Direct calls for cold/flu and fever have decreased in week 1. Eleven acute respiratory disease outbreaks were reported in UK in week 1, three in care homes, two in hospitals, five in prisons and one in a primary school. This brings the total reported this season so far to 146. Seventy-six of 156 (48.7%) specimens from patients with ILI presenting to sentinel GPs in England in week 1, were reported as positive for influenza. The proportion of specimens reported to DataMart (England) as positive for influenza decreased to 27.8% (1,104 of 3,968). The proportion of samples positive for RSV decreased slightly and was low for rhinovirus, parainfluenza, adenovirus and HMPV. Currently the main circulating influenza strains are influenza A (H1N1) and influenza B.

From week 36, 112 deaths associated with influenza infection have been reported.
By week 1, the proportion of people in England aged over 65 years who had received the 2010/11 influenza vaccine was 70.8%. For those in a risk group aged under 65 it was 46.3%. In Europe, several countries are continuing to report increasing influenza activity, primarily associated with influenza A H1N1 (2009). In the USA influenza activity has decreased slightly but continued to increased in Canada. In North America influenza A (H3N2) and B viruses have been predominant.

http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1294739353955