Virus WAtch Week Ending 8 February 2015

Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI)

Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels.

• ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) decreased this week and remain low.
• Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B continue to co-circulate.
• Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses remain steady and low.

Gastroenteritis

• Presentations to sentinel GPs and EDs decreased this week and levels are now consistent with this time period during previous years.
• Norovirus detections continue to decline.

Varicella and Viral Rashes

• Shingles and chickenpox presentations to both sentinel EDs and GPs decreased this week and are below baseline level.
• No cases of measles, mumps or rubella were confirmed this week.

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