Virus WAtch Week Ending 30 November 2014

Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI)

Summary: Influenza activity is low and at inter-seasonal level.

• ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) remain low.
• Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low.
• Influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B continue to co-circulate at low levels.
• Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses decreased this week.

Gastroenteritis

• Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel GPs nearly doubled this week.
• Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel EDs remain above baseline levels.
• Norovirus detections decreased but remain elevated, and rotavirus detections increased.

Varicella and Viral Rashes

• Shingles and chickenpox presentations to sentinel EDs and GPs decreased this week and are below baseline levels.
• Single cases of overseas-acquired measles and mumps were confirmed in adults with unknown vaccination histories. No cases of rubella were reported this week.

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