Virus WAtch Week Ending 6 July 2014

Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI)

Summary: Influenza activity continues to increase this week, indicating the influenza season has commenced.

• All indicators of influenza activity, including ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs), influenza notifications, laboratory detections and hospitalisations associated with influenza increased this week.
• The majority of influenza viruses subtyped in the past week were influenza A/H1N1, but influenza B and influenza A/H3 are also circulating.
• Detections of respiratory syncytial virus increased this week and remain high; adenovirus detections also increased.

Gastroenteritis

•  Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel GPs and EDs are within expected levels.

Varicella and Viral Rashes

•  Shingles presentations to sentinel GPs remain above expected levels; chickenpox presentations remain low.
• Three secondary cases of measles were reported in contacts of an imported case: one an infant family member; and two young adult contacts from a hospital emergency department. One confirmed case of mumps was notified in an unvaccinated traveller returning from Indonesia. No cases of rubella were reported.

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