Virus WAtch Week Ending 28 June 2015
Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI)
Summary: Rates of influenza-like illness increased this week.
- ILI presentations to sentinel emergency departments (EDs) and sentinel general practitioners (GPs) increased this week.
- Hospitalisations with confirmed influenza have been relatively steady over recent weeks, at around 10 per 1000 admissions.
- Influenza virus detections, test positivity and notifications are have changed little in the past few weeks, with influenza B viruses (75%) and influenza A/H3N2 (20%) viruses dominating detections; influenza A/H1N1 is co-circulating at a low level (5%). The influenza B strains currently circulating are 90% Yamagata lineage, matching the trivalent influenza vaccine strain.
- Non-influenza respiratory virus detections decreased; however, respiratory syncytial virus activity remains high.
Gastroenteritis
- Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel GPs and ED presentations are fluctuating at low levels.
- Rotavirus detections decreased this week, but remain relatively high. Rotavirus has caused recent outbreaks of gastroenteritis in residential care and childcare settings in metropolitan Perth.
Varicella and Viral Rashes
- Chickenpox and shingles presentations to sentinel EDs and GPs are near or below baseline levels.
- No cases of rubella were notified. One possible secondary measles case acquired in a healthcare setting is under investigation.
- Several further cases of mumps have been confirmed among Aboriginal children, teenagers and young adults in the Kimberley region, including in Broome.
