Virus WAtch Week Ending 19 April 2015

Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI)

Summary: Some indicators of influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity showed signs of increasing activity this week.

• ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and admissions to sentinel Emergency Departments (EDs) increased this week.
• Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B constituting the majority of subtyped viruses.
• Non-influenza respiratory virus detections increased marginally this week.

Gastroenteritis

• Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel GPs and EDs continue to fluctuate within expected levels.
• Rotavirus detections increased this week.

Varicella and Viral Rashes

• Shingles presentations to sentinel GPs remain above baseline level.
• Chickenpox presentations to sentinel GPs and EDs remain low.
• Two cases of mumps were confirmed: an adult Perth resident with no identified travel or exposure history; and a child from a remote Aboriginal community in the Kimberley region currently experiencing a mumps outbreak.
• No cases of measles or rubella were confirmed this week.

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