Report No. 18
Week ending 7 May 2010
A print friendly version of this report is available as a PDF (244 KB)The Department of Health and Ageing acknowledges the providers of the many sources of data used in this report and greatly appreciates their contribution.
Key Indicators
The counting of every case of pandemic influenza is no longer feasible in the PROTECT phase. Influenza activity and severity in the community is instead monitored by the surveillance systems listed below.Is the situation changing? |
Indicated by laboratory confirmed cases reported to NetEpi and/or National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS); GP Sentinel influenza-like illness (ILI) Surveillance; and emergency department (ED) presentations of ILI at sentinel hospitals (New South Wales and Western Australia). Laboratory data are used to determine the proportion of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza circulating in the community. |
---|---|
How severe is the disease, and is severity changing? |
Indicated by number of hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths from sentinel hospital surveillance as well as emergence of more severe clinical picture in hospitalised cases and ICU admissions. |
Is the virus changing? |
Indicated by emergence of drug resistance or gene drift or shift from laboratory surveillance. |
Top of page
Summary
- Levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) in the community have increased over the last week as indicated by increases in presentations to General Practitioners, WA Emergency Departments and ILI self reported through Flutracking.
- Reporting from laboratories suggests that little of this community ILI is due to influenza. Respiratory syncytial virus was the most common respiratory virus diagnosed by NSW sentinel laboratories in the last reporting period, rhinovirus in WA and picornavirus in VIC.
- Of the 557 confirmed cases of influenza diagnosed during 2010 up to 7 May, 12% have been sub-typed as pandemic (H1N1) 2009, 75% as type A not sub-typed (likely to be mostly pandemic influenza), 1% as A/H3N2 and 10% have been characterised as type B.
- Sentinel hospitals have reported two hospitalisations during this period. Both were associated with influenza B and both were from Victoria.
- In 2010, there have been 64 confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza reported in Australia, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 37,700 since May 2009. There have been no new confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza diagnosed and reported in Australia during this reporting period.
- Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus accounted for 85% of all influenza A viruses subtyped globally in the last reporting period. Seasonal Influenza B viruses are now predominant in the Russian Federation, China, Sweden, the Republic of Korea and Iran.
- In China, influenza B accounted for 72% of all influenza viruses detected in the week to 7 May 2010. Of these, approximately 43% are the same strain as that in the 2010 Southern Hemisphere vaccine.
- As at 2 May 2010, the WHO Regional Offices reported over 18,000 deaths associated with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza worldwide. In the Northern Hemisphere, the areas of highest transmission are in parts of West Africa, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.
Top of page
1. Influenza activity in Australia
Laboratory Confirmed Cases
Pandemic influenza activity remains low and sporadic cases of pandemic influenza continue to be reported without evidence of sustained community transmission (Figure 1). There were no laboratory confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases diagnosed during this reporting period.In the same period, there have been two confirmed cases of influenza. They included one of type A not sub-typed (Queensland) and one of type B (also in Queensland).
Figure 1. Laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and total influenza in Australia, to 7 May 2010
Note: Total influenza series starts on 1 January 2010.
Source: NetEpi (2009; NSW 2010) and NNDSS (2010)
Top of page
There have been 557 confirmed cases of influenza of all types diagnosed during 2010 up to 7 May. Of those, 64 (11.5%) have been sub-typed as pandemic (H1N1) 2009, 418 (75.0%) as influenza type A not sub-typed and 5 (0.9%) as A/H3N2. A further 57 (10.2%) have been characterised as influenza type B (Figure 2).
Influenza type A not further sub-typed is the predominant type in Australia to date this year. While it is expected that the majority of this will be pandemic (H1N1) 2009, these cases have a higher age profile (median age 43 years) than cases confirmed as the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 strain (21 years in 2010). The proportion of women diagnosed with Influenza type A not further sub-typed is also higher (51.9%) compared to that diagnosed with the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 strain (42.2)% in 2010).
Figure 2. Laboratory confirmed cases of influenza (pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal) in Australia, 1 January 2010 to 7 May 2010, by week and type
Source: NNDSS and NetEpi (NSW).
Top of page
Influenza-Like Illness
Sentinel General Practice Surveillance
Combined data available from the Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN) and the Northern Territory GP surveillance system show that in the week ending 2 May 2010, national ILI consultation rates increased, although they remain at levels seen in previous years. The greatest increase was in NSW, with an ILI consultation rate of 28 cases per 1,000 presentations, compared with 9 cases per 1,000 consultations in the last reporting period.In the last week, the presentation rate to sentinel GPs in Australia was approximately nine cases per 1,000 consultations (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Weekly rate of ILI reported from GP ILI surveillance systems from 1 January 2007 to 2 May 2010*
* Delays in the reporting of data may cause data to change retrospectively. As data from the NT surveillance system is combined with ASPREN data for 2010, rates may not be directly comparable across 2007, 2008 and 2009.
SOURCE: ASPREN, and NT GP surveillance system.
Top of page
WA Emergency Departments
The number of respiratory viral presentations reported in Western Australian EDs increased in the week ending 2 May 2010 and are above levels seen at the same time in previous years (Figure 4).Figure 4. Number of respiratory viral presentations to Western Australia EDs from 1 January 2007 to 2 May 2010 by week
Source: WA ‘Virus Watch’ Report
Top of page
NSW Emergency Departments
In March 2010, there were 90 presentations for ILI to New South Wales EDs. This is a similar number of presentations to the previous month (88 presentations), but more than that recorded in March 2009 (49 presentations).There were five hospital admissions following presentation to EDs with ILI in March 2010, compared with four in February 2010 and one in March 2009.
Source: NSW Health ‘Influenza Monthly Epidemiology Report1
Top of page
Flutracking
Flutracking, a national online system for collecting data on ILI in the community, reported that in the week ending 9 May 2010, ILI levels increased, however, remain low at the national level (Figure 5).Figure 5. Rate of ILI symptoms and absence from regular duties among Flutracking participants by week, from week ending 3 May 2009 to week ending 9 May 2010.
Source: Flutracking Interim Weekly Report
Top of page
National Health Call Centre Network
There were 33 ILI-related calls to the National Health Call Centre Network (NHCCN) in the week ending 7 May 2010, compared to 67 calls in the previous reporting period. The number of calls remains at baseline levels (Figure 6).Figure 6. Number of calls to the NHCCN related to ILI, Australia, 1 January 2009 to 7 May 2010
Note: national data does not include QLD and VIC
Source: NHCCN data
Top of page
Deaths associated with influenza and pneumonia
Death registration data show that as at 12 March 2010, there were 69 pneumonia or influenza deaths per 1,000 deaths in NSW, which is below the seasonal threshold of 99 per 1,000 (Figure 7).Figure 7. Rate of deaths classified as influenza and pneumonia from the NSW Registered Death Certificates, 2005 to 12 March 2010.
Source: NSW ‘Influenza Monthly Epidemiology Report’
Absenteeism
The most recent data indicate that in the week ending 28 April 2010, national absenteeism rates decreased and were at similar levels seen at the same time in previous years (Figure 8).Figure 8. Rates of absenteeism (greater than 3 days absent), national employer, from 28 January 2007 to 28 April 2010, by week.
SOURCE: Absenteeism data
Top of page
Sentinel Laboratory Surveillance - confirmed influenza notifications
Results from sentinel laboratory surveillance systems for this reporting period show that only 0.8% (2/236) of the respiratory tests conducted over this period were positive for influenza. One was positive for pandemic (H1N1) 2009, and one was positive for type A/H3N2 (Table 1).Table 1. Laboratory respiratory tests that tested positive for influenza
ASPREN* – national | NSW laboratories | WA NIC | NT (Reported by WA NIC) |
VIC NIC | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
of specimens tested | 2 |
68 |
79 |
N/A |
87 |
Number tested which were Influenza A | 0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Number tested which were pandemic (H1N1) 2009 | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Number tested which were seasonal A/H1N1 | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Number tested which were A/H3N2 | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Number tested which were Influenza A untyped | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Number tested which were Influenza B | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The most common respiratory virus detected | N/A |
RSV |
rhinovirus |
N/A |
picornavirus |
*ASPREN tests are collected every Tuesday. Results are reported for a rolling fortnight as data changes retrospectively.
Top of page
2. Overview of influenza severity to 7 May 2010a
While pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is generally considered a mild disease at the community level, it has had serious consequences at the acute end of the disease. Figures of hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths are currently used as indicators of the severity of the disease in Australia (Table 2).Note that while the analysis of severity is on-going, updates are presented as required when there are significant changes detected. With the current low levels of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza activity in Australia it is anticipated that the indicators of pandemic severity will not vary significantly.
Pandemic (H1N1) data for 2009 are currently being finalised through cleaning and validation processes. It is possible that these processes will result in some changes in the data presented here. Validated data will be progressively reported as these steps are completed.
There has been a total of 37,700 confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Australia as at 7 May 2010, including 191 pandemic influenza-associated deaths. Of these, 37,636 cases were reported in 2009 and 64 cases were reported in 2010.
Table 2. Summary of severity indicators of pandemic (H1N1) in Australia, 2009 and 2010 up to 7 May 2010
2009# | 2010a | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases |
Hospitalised cases | ICU cases | Deaths | Confirmed (H1N1) 2009 cases | |
Total number | 37,636 |
13% (4,992/37,636) confirmed cases) |
14% |
191 |
64 |
Crude rate per 100,000 population | 172.1 |
22.8 |
3.1 |
0.9 |
0.3 |
Median age (years) | 21 |
31 |
44^ |
53^ |
27 |
Females | 51% (19,139/37,636) |
51% (2,528/4,992) |
53% |
44% |
42.2% |
Vulnerable groups (Indigenous persons, pregnant women & individuals with at least 1 co-morbidity) | n/a |
58% (2,892/4,992) |
74% |
67% |
n/a |
Indigenous people~ | 11% (3,877/34,750) |
20% |
19% |
13% |
1.6% |
Pregnant women* | n/a |
27% |
16% |
4% |
n/a |
Cases with at least 1 co-morbidity | n/a |
46% (2,303/4,992) |
67% |
62% |
n/a |
a Data for 2009 from NetEpi, Data for 2010 from NNDSS and NetEpi (NSW).
#Data are extracted from a number of sources depending on the availability of information. Figures used in the analysis have been provided in parentheses. Data are not always complete for each summarised figure.
~The denominator for this row is the number of confirmed cases for which Indigenous status is known.
* Includes women in the post-partum period.
^ Validation of data has identified anomalies affecting median ages for ICU cases and deaths in reports #28-33 2009 and report #1 2010. Correction has resulted in a change in the median ages of ICU cases and deaths from report #2, 2010.
Top of page
Influenza Hospitalisations
The Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN) reported two influenza hospitalisations for the week ending 7 May 2010. Both have been for Type B, in Victoria and one has involved ICU admission for this condition. For the period of 1 March to 7 May 2010, FluCAN has reported a total of eight influenza hospitalisations (Table 3 and Figure 9). Of those, four have been associated with pandemic (H1N1) 2009, including two with ICU admission. FluCAN data have been collected from 10 participating sentinel hospitals from all jurisdictions except ACT and NT.Table 3. Number of influenza hospitalisations, sentinel hospitals, Australia, 1 March to 7 May 2010
Type of influenza |
Week ending 7 May 2010 |
Total 1 March – 7 May |
---|---|---|
Pandemic (H1N1) | 0 |
4 |
Type A/H3N2 | 0 |
1 |
Type B | 2 |
3 |
All types | 2 |
8 |
Source: Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN). Data are from 10 sentinel hospitals from all jurisdictions except ACT and NT.
Top of page
Figure 9. Number of influenza hospitalisations, sentinel hospitals, Australia from 1 March to 7 May 2010
Source: FluCAN data from 10 sentinel hospitals in all jurisdictions except ACT and NT
Top of page
Intensive care
The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) has reported a total of five ICU admissions for influenza in 2010, and none for this reporting period. Of these, three have been associated with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza and two with Type A not further sub-typed (Figure 10).Figure 10. Number of ICU admissions for influenza, ANZICS, Australia, 1 January to 7 May 2010
Source: Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZIC) data base
Top of page
3. Virology
Antigenic characteristics - WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference & Research on Influenza (WHO CC) in Melbourne
From 1 January 2010 to 9 May 2010, there were 30 Australian influenza isolates subtyped by the WHO CC (Table 4). Twenty were Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, three were A(H3N2) and seven were type B.Table 4. Typing of influenza isolates from the WHO Collaborating Centre, from 1 January 2010 to 9 May 2010
Type/Subtype |
ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA | TOTAL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A(H1N1) | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 | 1 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
20 |
A(H3N2) | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
B | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
Total | 1 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
16 |
2 |
30 |
SOURCE: WHO CC
Please note: There may be up to a month delay on reporting of samples.
Isolates tested by the WHO CC are not necessarily a random sample of all those in the community, hence proportions of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 to seasonal are not representative of the proportions circulating.
Antigenic characterisation of 11 Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 isolates has shown 10 to be the A/California/7/2009-like strain and one a low reactor version of this strain.
Top of page
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES
The Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN) continues to monitor the global circulation of influenza viruses, including pandemic, seasonal and other influenza viruses infecting, or with the potential to infect, humans. Since the beginning of the pandemic on 19 April 2009 to 1 May 2010, 155 countries shared a total of 25,384 specimens (19,460 clinical samples and 5,924 virus isolates) with WHO Collaborating Centres for further characterisation.1Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus accounted for 84.7% of all influenza A viruses subtyped globally in the last reporting period. Seasonal Influenza B viruses are now predominant in the Russian Federation, China, Sweden, the Republic of Korea and Iran.
In China, influenza B accounted for 72.3% of all influenza viruses detected in the week to 7 May 2010. From 1 September 2009 to 25 April 2010, 3419 influenza B viruses have been antigenically characterised. Of those, 3091 (90.4%) were B/Victoria viruses, including 51.9% (1604) related to B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like and 48.1% (1487) related to B/Brisbane/60/2008 (included in 2010 Southern Hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccine). The remaining 328 (9.6%) were B/Yamagata viruses related to B/Florida/4/2006-like.1
ANTIVIRAL RESISTANCE
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
The WHO has reported that 285 oseltamivir resistant pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses have been detected and characterised worldwide. All but one of these isolates showed the same H275Y mutation but were sensitive to zanamivir.2 One case of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in an immunocompromised child has shown reduced susceptibility to zanamivir and oseltamivir due to an amino acid mutation in the neuraminidase. No onward transmission was detected.2The WHO Collaborating Centre in Melbourne has reported that from 1 January 2010 to 9 May 2010, no isolates have shown resistance to oseltamivir by enzyme inhibition assay (EIA) and two clinical specimens collected in Australia have shown the H275Y mutation known to confer resistance to oseltamivir (Table 5).
Table 5. Neuraminidase resistance testing of Australian pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza viruses
2009 | 2010 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Viral isolates (EIA) |
Clinical specimens | Viral isolates (EIA) |
Clinical specimens | |
No. tested | 587 |
276 |
10 |
13 |
EIA Resistant | 4 |
N/A |
0 |
N/A |
H275Y mutation | N/A |
9 |
N/A |
2 |
Top of page
4. International Influenza Surveillance
WHO Summary as at 2 May 2010
- The most active areas of pandemic influenza virus transmission are in parts of West Africa, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.
- Pandemic influenza activity is low.
- Seasonal influenza type B viruses:
- are circulating at low levels, and
- are the predominant influenza virus in China, Russian Federation, Republic of Korea, Iran and Sweden.
- Southern Hemisphere
- Pandemic and seasonal influenza activity is sporadic.
- In Chile, there is evidence of low level community circulation of pandemic influenza, including a small number of severe cases.
Recent influenza activity in selected areas of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres is shown in Table 6.
Table 6. International influenza surveillance by country/region for the most recent reporting week
Country/ region |
End date of most recent reporting week in 2010 | Overall influenza activity level | Proportion of GP visits that were for ILI | Respiratory tests positive for influenza | Influenza which was influenza A | Influenza A which was pandemic (H1N1) 2009 | Influenza A which was untyped | Influenza which was influenza B |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Hemisphere |
||||||||
USA3 | 1 May |
Low |
0.7% |
0.9% (16/1,770) |
68.8% (11) |
72.7% (8) |
27.3% (3) |
31.3% (5) |
Canada4 | 1 May |
Low |
0.5% |
0.27% (4/1,500) |
4^ |
4^ |
0^ |
0^ |
Europe5 | 7 May |
Low |
Not reported |
5.2% (7/135) |
3^ |
0^ |
3^ |
4^ |
UK6 | 6 May |
Low |
≤0.02 |
7.0% (3/40) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
China1 | 25 April |
Low |
3.4 – 3.8% |
13.0% (407/3138) |
8.4% (34) |
29.4% (10) |
0.0% (0) |
91.6% (373) |
Southern Hemisphere* |
||||||||
NZ7 | 9 May |
Low |
0.03% |
3.9% (2/51) |
2^ |
2^ |
0^ |
0^ |
Australia | 7 May |
Low |
0.9% |
0.8%** (2/236) |
100%** (2/2) |
1^** |
0%** (0/2) |
0%** (0/2) |
^Numbers only. Percentages not calculated due to small numbers.
* Chile and Argentina have not been included in this table this reporting period, because the online influenza surveillance reports for these countries have not been updated since January and February, respectively.
**Source: Sentinel Laboratory Surveillance (see Table 1)
Top of page
5. Data considerations
The information in this report is reliant on the surveillance sources available to the Department of Health and Ageing. As access to sources increase and improve, this report will be refined and additional information will be included.This report aims to increase awareness of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal influenza in Australia by providing an analysis of the various surveillance data sources throughout Australia. While every care has been taken in preparing this report, the Commonwealth does not accept liability for any injury or loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance upon, the content of the report. Delays in the reporting of data may cause data to change retrospectively. For further details about information contained in this report please contact the Influenza Team through flu@health.gov.au
On 17 June 2009 Australia commenced the transition to a new response phase called PROTECT, in which laboratory testing is directed towards people with moderate or severe illness; those more vulnerable to severe illness; and those in institutional settings. This means that the number of confirmed cases does not reflect how many people in the community have acquired pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection.
NetEpi
In 2009, NetEpi, a web-based outbreak case reporting system for pandemic (H1N1) 2009, was used as the primary source of enhanced data on confirmed cases, hospitalisations and ICU admissions in all jurisdictions. In 2010, only data for NSW are sourced from NetEpi.Analyses of Australian cases are based on the diagnosis date, which is the earliest of the onset date, specimen date or notification date.
National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)
Laboratory confirmed influenza (all types) is notifiable in all jurisdictions in Australia. Confirmed cases of influenza are notified through NNDSS by all jurisdictions except NSW. NSW data are sourced from NetEpi.Data Analysis
Analysis of confirmed influenza cases is conducted on combined NetEpi and NNDSS data. Analysis of morbidity (hospitalisations and ICU admissions) and mortality data in 2009 has been conducted on combined NetEpi and QLD hospitalisation data.Laboratory Surveillance data
Laboratory testing data are extracted from the ‘NSW Influenza Report,’ and the ‘The 2009 Victorian Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Audit Report’ (VIDRL) ‘South Australian Seasonal Influenza Report’. These reports are provided weekly.WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference & Research on Influenza (WHO CC)
Data are provided weekly to the Surveillance Branch from the WHO CC.Sentinel General Practice Surveillance
The Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN) has Sentinel GPs who report ILI presentation rates in NSW, SA, ACT, VIC, QLD, TAS and WA. As jurisdictions joined ASPREN at different times and the number of GPs reporting has changed over time, the representativeness of ASPREN data in 2009 may be different from that of previous years. ASPREN data are sent to the Surveillance Branch on a weekly basis. Northern Territory GP surveillance data are sent to the Surveillance Branch on a weekly basis. VIDRL influenza surveillance data are sent to the Surveillance Branch on a weekly basis.Further information on Sentinel GPs’ Influenza Surveillance and ASPREN activities are available at www.dmac.adelaide.edu.au/aspren Top of page
Sentinel ED data
WA - ED surveillance data are extracted from the ‘Virus Watch’ Report. This report is provided weekly. The Western Australia Influenza Surveillance Program collects data from eight Perth EDs.NSW - ED surveillance data are extracted from the ‘Influenza Monthly Epidemiology Report, NSW’. This report is provided monthly. The New South Wales Influenza Surveillance Program collects data from 49 EDs across New South Wales.
Absenteeism
A national organisation provides data on the number of employees who have been on sick leave for a continuous period of more than three days. These data are not influenza or ILI specific and absenteeism may be a result of other illnesses.National Health Call Centre Network
A national organisation provides call centre data for calls relating to ILI or influenza. Data are provided daily and are collated weekly and have been presented in this report to show the pattern of calls to this Call Centre over the 2009 season. Data is available for all jurisdictions other than QLD and VIC.FluTracking
FluTracking is a project of the University of Newcastle, the Hunter New England Area Health Service and the Hunter Medical Research Institute. FluTracking is an online health surveillance system to detect epidemics of influenza. It involves participants from around Australia completing a simple online weekly survey, which collects data on the rate of ILI symptoms in communities.Data have been provided weekly and have been presented in this report to show the pattern of self reported ILI in the community over the 2009 season.
Further information on FluTracking is available at www.flutracking.net/index.html
FluCAN
The Influenza Complications Network (FluCAN) collects detailed clinical information on all hospitalised cases of influenza and pneumonia from a sample of 13 sentinel hospitals across Australia. The data for this reporting period are sourced only from ten hospitals and do not include ACT and NT.Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society data (ANZICS data)
The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society provides data from a `near real time` registry of patients admitted to Australian ICUs. This documents the key factors influencing mortality, as well as the need for hospitalisation and mechanical ventilation. Information collected includes person characteristics and information on relevant co-morbidities, nature of the clinical syndrome associated with pandemic (H1N1) 2009, major therapeutic interventions from which organ failure outcomes can be imputed, vaccination status and vital status at time of ICU discharge and hospital discharge.Top of page
6. References
1. WHO Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - Update 99 & Virological Surveillance Weekly Update. Available from http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/ Accessed 13 May 2010.
2. EuroFlu Weekly Electronic Bulletin. Week 13 ending 4 April 2010. Available from: http://www.euroflu.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi accessed 20 April 2010.
3. CDC FluView Weekly report, Week 17 ending 1 May 2010. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/ Accessed 13 May 2010.
4. Canada FluWatch Weekly report, week 17 ending 1 May 2010. Available from: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/09-10/index-eng.php Accessed 13 May 2010
5. ECDC pandemic update, week 17 ending 2 May 2010. Available from: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/activities/surveillance/EISN/Pages/EISN_Bulletin.aspx Accessed 13 May 2010.
6. HPA weekly pandemic flu media update. Week 18, ending 6 May. Available from: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1243928258560 Accessed 13 May 2010.
7. New Zealand Ministry of Health Influenza Weekly Update. Week 18, ending 9 May 2010. Available from: http://www.surv.esr.cri.nz/virology/influenza_weekly_update.php Accessed 13 May 2010.
Communicable Diseases Surveillance