CD ROM Paradise Collection 4/CD ROM Paradise Collection 4 1995 Nov.iso/science/influenz.zip/INFLUENZ.TXT

Text File | 1994-10-27 | 8KB | 177 lines

                 INFLUENZA ACTIVITY DURING 1994-1995 SEASON
          Based on reports from National Influenza Centres to WHO


Situation as at 25 October 1994:  The first influenza virus isolate has been
reported from Switzerland - an influenza B isolated from a specimen obtained
12 October.  Countries in Europe and North America have intensified the
influenza surveillance in preparation for the coming season.   The WHO kit of
influenza diagnostic reagents is being distributed to the National Influenza
Centres to enable the laboratory diagnosis of current influenza viruses.

The 1993-94 influenza year which ended 30 September 1994 was mainly
associated with influenza A(H3N2) viruses.  They were isolated during
epidemics in Scandinavia and widespread outbreaks in much of Europe and North
America.  These outbreaks began in the northern and western Europe in October
1993 but started later, around February, in the eastern and southern parts of
Europe.  Influenza A(H3N2) were also the main virus isolated in the influenza
season in the Southern Hemisphere, except southern Africa where influenza B
was more common.  Influenza B viruses were also more commonly reported than
influenza A(H3N2) throughout the 1993-94 influenza year in Asia.

The Directors of the WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on
Influenza met in Geneva 14-15 February and recommended the following
composition of influenza virus vaccines to use in the 1994-1995 season:

    A/Shangdong/9/93(H3N2)-like virus
    A/Singapore/6/86(H1N1)-like virus
    B/Panama/45/90-like virus

The viruses isolated and investigated in the WHO Collaborating Centres since
that recommendation have been antigenically similar to the vaccine strains:
The majority of influenza A(H3N2) viruses were similar to A/Shangdong/9/93
and A/Guangdon/25/93, the influenza B isolates were similar to B/Panama/45/90
and B/Quingdao/102/91 and the H1N1 isolates continued to be similar to
A/Singapore/6/86(H1N1), A/Victoria/36/88 and A/Texas/36/91.


                               COUNTRY REPORTS


AMERICAS


Brazil  -  Influenza A diagnosed in two cases in early May and influenza B in
two cases in July.  All four cases were reported in Rio de Janeiro.  Sao
Paulo reported a few isolats of influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B during
March-July. (24/9)


Chile  -    The first sign of influenza activity in the 1994 season was two
cases of influenza A diagnosed in children hospitalized with pneumonia in
Santiago in June.  An outbreak began among the general population in Santiago
in June, reached a peak in the week ending 24 July and was over by the end of
August.  Influenza A was diagnosed by IF in over 60 patients, and some have
also been confirmed as influenza A(H3N2).  Influenza B has been reported in
two other regions.  (8/9)



EUROPE


Belgium  -  ARI incidence increased above the epidemic threshold for a few
weeks in September but no virus could be implicated. (16/10)

Finland  -  No evidence of influenza activity up to 10 October.

France  -   A few cases of influenza A and B were diagnosed serologically in
October.  (18/10)

Germany  -  Nothing to report from Berlin up to 21 October.

Greece  -  Influenza A diagnosed serologically in Athens in mid-October.
(15/10)

Spain  -  Nothing to report from Valladolid (north) up to 8 October.

Switzerland  -  Influenza B isolated from a specimen obtained 12 October.
(23/10)

United Kingdom  -  Small increase in clinical reporting of influenza and
influenza-like illness in England and Wales in October.  A few cases of
influenza A and B diagnosed in the last week of September and first week of
October. (18/10)


AFRICA


Madagascar  -    The proportion of cases of influenza-like illness started to
increase (to 4-5%) in the second half of March and was 7.4% in the first week
of June in one health care centre.  Between 10% and 13% of the patients in
three health centres had flu-like illness in September.  No viruses isolated
from the about 700 specimens investigated during 1994. (2/10)

South Africa  -  Influenza A(H3N2) virus was isolated from an adult in
Johannesburg at the end of May.  This first isolate was followed by several
cases of influenza B in Johannesburg, Middleburg and Durban during June and
July.  School absenteeism (studied in schools comprising 9,000 students)
started to increase in the last week of June.  Influenza A(H3N2) was again
isolated in July, August and September. (27/9)

Zambia  -  Influenza B virus isolated in early May and continued to be
detected in June and July.  No outbreak reported. (13/10)

Zimbabwe  -  A nationwide outbreak of influenza-like illness was reported in
July.  Reagents to permit laboratory diagnosis dispatched 19 July.  Further
information requested. (13/7)



ASIA


China  -    Some influenza B detected in southern China in April and May.
(12/5)

Hong Kong  -    Influenza A(H3N2) isolated in June, for the first time since
September 1993.  The number of H3N2 isolates increased markedly in July but
then decreased in August-September when some influenza B and one A(H1N1)
virus was isolated.  All confirmed cases were reported to be sporadic.  (5/9)

India  -  Nothing to report from Kasauli in the period March-August. (5/9)

Singapore  -  Influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B virus isolates investigated
in London.  Epidemiological information requested. (Hay's report of 16/9)

Thailand  -    Influenza A and B viruses were isolated in June and July.  The
number of influenza B isolates increased markedly in July.  Isolates were
from patients in all age groups under 60 years but most were in children
under 15.  Influenza A and B viruses continued to be isolated in August and
September.


OCEANIA


Australia  -  Sporadic cases of influenza A started to be diagnosed in
Melbourne in April and influenza B in May.  Only sporadic cases and small
local outbreaks were reported in June although there were signs of increasing
activity towards the end of the month.  Influenza activity increased markedly
in July and outbreaks were reported throughout the country.  Most isolates
were influenza A(H3N2) but a small number of influenza B virus isolates have
also been obtained. (23/9)

New Zealand  -   Small outbreaks occurred in North Island in May and in June
outbreaks were reported among the general population over most of the
country.  The incidence increased in southern and central South Island in
July.  The proportion of consultations for influenza-like illness in GP
offices was 2-5 times higher than in June.  Reported influenza continued to
increase in August with a peak in the third week of the month.  North Island
health districts were affected most in August with a shift from southern to
northern region of localized outbreaks. The patients were in all age groups
but most were older than 15 years and half were adults in the age group 20-59
years.  A large outbreak was reported in a ski resort in central North Island
and local outbreaks continued to be reported among the general population
throughout the country in July.  Influenza A and B isolated but most were
influenza A and in August only influenza A viruses were found.  All those
further typed were H3N2.  (31/8)




      COUNTRY REPORTS ON INFLUENZA TYPES (ISOLATION OR RAPID DIAGNOSIS)
                             1 October 1994 -


Influenza A(H3N2) -

Influenza A(H1N1) -

Influenza B - (1)

Europe (1):        Switzerland