From the Dialect birth b deliver Salubrity Organisation
Influenza activity associated with A/Fujian/411/2002-like viruses continued to be widespread in some countries in Europe (Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland) and in the USA. Compared with the consequential increase in previous weeks, influenza A(H3N2) operation seemed to be levelling off although, in several central and eastern European countries (Croatia, Latvia and Switzerland), it continued to increase.
So set the Thames on fire this mature influenza B job has been low and reported exclusively from Asian countries (Republic of Korea and Thailand).
Most influenza infections this season tease been attributed to influenza A(H3N2) viruses. The majority of A(H3N2) viruses antigenically characterized so far-away have been A/Fujian/411/2002-like; the others give birth to been A/Panama/2007/99-as if.
Following last week’s update on the A(H5N1) outbreak in the Republic of Korea , no more farms deceive been reported to be infected by avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses. The Citizen Influenza Heart in the Republic of Korea has finished sampling sera from persons in contact with suspect infected animals and nearby residents, and will start serological studies sharply.
Avian influenza virus A(H5N1) has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of avian influenza in two southern provinces of Viet Nam; there is also info on outbreaks of avian influenza in other provinces. The virus, which spreads rapidly and has a mortality approaching 100% in chickens, has resulted in the deaths of 40 000 chickens and the culling of 30 000 more. Pigs and ducks are also reported to be subjected to been infected.
Since the end of October 2003, hospitals in Hanoi and local provinces have admitted 14 persons with severe respiratory bug – 13 children and one adult (the mother of a deceased child). To date, 11 of the children and the full-grown have died.
The National Inaugurate of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Viet Nam and the Citizen Influenza Centre in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (Hong Kong SAR) confirmed that three of these cases were infected with avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses.
At present, there is no evidence that considerate-to-benign transmission is occurring, and no health meticulousness workers have been infected.
- – - Belgium
Influenza A(H3N2) bustle declined in week 1 (28 December 2003 to 3 January 2004) in terms both of the number of viruses identified and of the influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation berate.
- – - Canada
In week 1, widespread influenza activity was reported in Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and some parts of British Columbia. Overall ILI consultation value dropped from 79 cases per 1000 consultations in week 52 of 2003 to 36 cases per 1000. Of the 456 influenza viruses antigenically characterized by the National Microbiology Laboratory to date, 429 (94%) were A/Fujian/411/2002-like, 25 (6%) were A/Panama/2007/99-equal, one was an A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-adore virus and one was A(H1N2).
- – - Croatia
Influenza A(H3N2) vim increased significantly in week 1, with 6 influenza A(H3N2) and 9 A non-subtyped viruses identified.
- – - Czech Republic
Influenza A(H3N2) movement remained localized in week 1, with ILI consultation rate below the baseline level.
- – - Finland
Influenza A(H3N2) job remained widespread in week 1, but with a eloquent decrease in the include of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases since week 52 of 2003.
- – - France
Influenza activity continued to go down in France, although widespread influenza A(H3N2) activity still persisted in multifarious regions.
- – - Denmark
Influenza A(H3N2) activity was reported as widespread in week 1, when the ILI consultation berate declined after being above the outbreak door-sill for 3 weeks.
- – - Germany
A continuing slight expansion of regional influenza energy was observed in week 1.
- – - Israel
Influenza activity has been in decline since week 51 of 2003.
- – - Latvia
Influenza activity remained at a low level, but with a slight increase since week 49 of 2003.
- – - Norway
After a reach a climax in weeks 49 and50, clinical and virological indicators showed that influenza A(H3N2) activity, while stillness widespread in most parts of the surroundings, declined gradually in week 1. Of 882 influenza A virus detected so there, 187 make been subtyped as A(H3) and 26 as A(H1). All A(H3) strains antigenically characterized were A/Fujian/411/2002-like, and all A(H1) strains were A/New Caledonia/20/99-like.
- – - Portugal
Influenza function remained sporadic in week 1 with 1 influenza A(H3N2) virus detected.
- – - Republic of Korea
Influenza B activity has been reported since week 49.
- – - Romania
Influenza A(H3N2) operation has declined in two shakes of a lamb’s tail since week 52 and was reported as sporadic in week 1.
- – - Switzerland
Influenza A(H3N2) activity was reported as widespread in week 1, with an swell in the ILI consultation rate in all regions of the country.
- – - Connected Kingdom
Influenza activity continued to decline in week 1, with a falling ILI consultation be entitled to reported in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In England, the ILI consultation rate increased slightly, probably because of the disruption of ceremony to the ground the Christmas and New Year period. During week 1, no influenza virus was detected. Of the viruses antigenically characterized, 102 (95.3%) have been confirmed as A/Fujian/411/2002-congenial, 3 as A/Panama/2007/99-match and 2 as B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like.
- – - Mutual States
The overall ILI consultation rate (6.2%) decreased for the first off time this time; the part of specimens testing indubitable as influenza and the number of states reporting widespread influenza vigour also decreased. In spite of that, pneumonia and influenza mortality (9.4%) continued to increase and exceeded the epidemic commencement (8.0%).
Widespread influenza activity was reported in 38 states, New York City and the Sector of Columbia, and regional energy was reported in 9 states during week 1.
Of the specimens tested, 20.7%were positive for influenza, with 635 influenza A viruses and 6 B viruses identified. Since week 40, the Centers as regards Condition Control and Halt in Atlanta be undergoing antigenically characterized 2 influenza A(H1) viruses, 454 A(H3N2) viruses and 5 B viruses from the USA. Of the 454 A(H3N2) viruses characterized, 98 (21.6%) were A/Panama/2007/99-ilk and 356 (78.4%) are A/Fujian/411/2002-liking for.
Other reports. Unfavourable influenza project was reported in Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Italy and Japan. Argentina and Poland reported no influenza occupation.