Virus WAtch Week Ending 12 April 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 emergency departments (EDs) and general practitioners (GPs) remain low.
• Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 continues to co-circulate.
• Non-influenza respiratory virus detections declined this week.

Gastroenteritis

• Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel GPs increased this week and are higher than expected levels.
• Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel EDs are consistent with this time period during previous years.
• Norovirus and rotavirus detections are relatively steady.

Varicella and Viral Rashes

• Shingles presentations to sentinel GPs increased this week and are now above baseline level.
• Chickenpox presentations to sentinel GPs and EDs remain low.
• Five cases of mumps have been confirmed in the Kimberley region in the past month, four in vaccinated Aboriginal children from a remote community.
• No cases of measles or rubella were confirmed this week.

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