VirusWAtch Week Ending 3 May 2015

Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI)

Summary: Indicators of influenza activity remain relatively steady, at inter-seasonal levels.

• ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and Emergency Departments remained steady this week.
• Influenza B and A/H3N2 constituted the majority of influenza viruses subtyped this week.
• Non-influenza respiratory virus activity decreased this week.

Gastroenteritis

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

Varicella and Viral Rashes

• Shingles and chickenpox presentations to sentinel GPs are near or below baseline levels.
• Shingles presentations to sentinel EDs are above baseline level.
• Several new cases of mumps linked to an outbreak among Aboriginal children and teenagers in the Kimberley region were notified this week.
• No cases of measles or rubella were confirmed this week.

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