Virus WAtch Week Ending 11 January 2015

Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI)

Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels.

• ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) remain low.
• Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2, influenza A/H1N1, and influenza B co-circulating.
• Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses were low.

Gastroenteritis

• Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel EDs decreased this week, but remain above baseline levels. Presentations to sentinel GPs remain elevated.
• Norovirus detections appear to be decreasing. Multiple outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis have been reported in recent weeks, in residential aged care and other settings.

Varicella and Viral Rashes

• Shingles presentations to both sentinel GPs and EDs are currently above baseline level. Chickenpox presentations to sentinel GPs and EDs are near expected levels.
• No cases of measles, mumps or rubella were reported this week.

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