EuroGROG Bulletinn°3 Season 2000-2001

SEASON 2000-2001
BULLETIN N°3

New information received from 20 European countries.

Local outbreaks of Influenza activity were reported in Belgium and the north ofFrance. Sporadic acitivity was reported in some other countries such as Denmark, Germany & Sweden. During weeks 47 & 48, influenza A/NC/20/99(H1N1) was the dominant variant.

Weeks 20/46 to 20/48

AUSTRIA** No influenza acitivity Weeks 20/46 to 20/47 29/11/00

BELGIUM** Local outbreaks of Influenza activity.Ten influenza A viruses were detected week 20/48 Week 20/48 06/12/00

BULGARIA** ARI at seasonal levels. No isolation nor detection so far. Weeks 20/40 to 20/48 06/12/00

CROATIA** No indication of influenza activity. No detection nor isolation so far Week 20/49 04/12/00

CZECH REPUBLIC Influenza activity was at baseline levels. No new virus detection/isolation Weeks 20/46 to 20/47 24/11/00

DENMARK** Sporadic influenza activity. No isolation/detection reported this week Week 20/48 06/12/00

FINLAND** Sporadic lab confirmed cases of influenza: 2 antigen detections of influenza A virus were reported Week 20/48 04/12/00

FRANCE** Local outbreaks of influenza activity. 17 influenza A isolates were reported for week 20/48. Among them, 9 were characterised as A(H1N1) strains antigenically related to A/NC/20/99(H1N1). Week 20/48

GERMANY** Sporadic influenza activity.Second influenza A(H1N1) virus reported in Berlin within the sentinel network Week 20/48 06/12/00

GREECE No report so far

HUNGARY No report so far

ICELAND No influenza activity. No detection nor isolation so far Weeks 20/42 to 20/47 30/11/00

IRELAND** No influenza activity Week 20/47 30/11/00

ITALY** No influenza activity (week 20/47). No detection nor isolation reported for weeks 20/47 &20/48 Weeks 20/47 & 20/48 06/12/00

LATVIA** No influenza activity. So far,no detection nor isolation Week 20/48 06/12/00

LITHUANIA No report so far

THE NETHERLANDS** No influenza activity (week 20/47). No detection nor isolation so far Weeks 20/47 & 20/48

NORWAY** No detectable influenza activity.No detection nor isolation so far Week 20/48 06/12/00

POLAND** Influenza activity at seasonal levels with increasing incidence of ILI. No detection nor isolation so far Week 20/49 04/12/00

PORTUGALR** One detection/isolation of influenza A(H1N1) virus reported within the sentinel network Week 20/48 06/12/00

ROMANIA ARI at non epidemic level.No detection nor isolation of influenza virus so far Week 20/47 30/11/00

RUSSIA and CIS c. During the third quarter of year 2000, low influenza activity with sporadic
cases of influenza A(H3N2), A(H1N1) & B 3rd quarter 2000

SLOVAK REPUBLIC** Influenza activity at seasonal levels. No newinfluenza isolate Week 20/49 04/12/00

SLOVENIA No report so far

SPAIN** Sporadic influenza activity reported but no detection nor isolation so far Week 20/48 06/12/00

SWEDEN** Sporadic influenza activity Week 20/47

SWITZERLAND** No influenza activity. No detection nor isolation so far Week 20/48 06/12/00

UNITED KINGDOM** All indicators continue to remain at low levels (week 20/47). 13 Influenza A detections/isolations and one influenza B virus isolation/detection reported in England for week 48. Weeks 20/47 & 20/4829/11/00 & 06/12/00

Elsewhere in the world

USA** Regional influenza activity was reported by 2 states and territorial health departments whereas sporadic activity was reported by 24. The other 24 reported no influenza activity.
During week 47, 29 (4%) specimens were found positive: 19 were influenza A(H1N1) viruses, 2 A(H3N2) viruses, 5 were unsubtyped A viruses, and 3 wereB viruses. Week 20/47 30/11/00

ISRAEL** First influenza isolate reported (week 20/47). The virus was characterised as A(H1N1) Weeks 46 to 20/48 03/12/00


	New information received from 20 European countries.
Local outbreaks of Influenza activity were reported in Belgium and the north ofFrance. Sporadic acitivity was reported in some other countries such as Denmark, Germany & Sweden. During weeks 47 & 48, influenza A/NC/20/99(H1N1) was the dominant variant.
	Weeks 20/46 to 20/48
AUSTRIA**	No influenza acitivity	Weeks 20/46 to 20/47 29/11/00
BELGIUM**	Local outbreaks of Influenza activity.Ten influenza A viruses were detected week 20/48	Week 20/48 06/12/00
BULGARIA**	ARI at seasonal levels. No isolation nor detection so far.	Weeks 20/40 to 20/48 06/12/00
CROATIA**	No indication of influenza activity. No detection nor isolation so far	Week 20/49 04/12/00
CZECH REPUBLIC	Influenza activity was at baseline levels. No new virus detection/isolation	Weeks 20/46 to 20/47 24/11/00
DENMARK**	Sporadic influenza activity. No isolation/detection reported this week	Week 20/48 06/12/00
FINLAND**	Sporadic lab confirmed cases of influenza: 2 antigen detections of influenza A virus were reported	Week 20/48 04/12/00
FRANCE**	Local outbreaks of influenza activity. 17 influenza A isolates were reported for week 20/48. Among them, 9 were characterised as A(H1N1) strains antigenically related to A/NC/20/99(H1N1).	Week 20/48
GERMANY**	Sporadic influenza activity.Second influenza A(H1N1) virus reported in Berlin within the sentinel network	Week 20/48 06/12/00
GREECE	No report so far
HUNGARY	No report so far
ICELAND	No influenza activity. No detection nor isolation so far	Weeks 20/42 to 20/47 30/11/00
IRELAND**	No influenza activity	Week 20/47 30/11/00
ITALY**	No influenza activity (week 20/47). No detection nor isolation reported for weeks 20/47 &20/48	Weeks 20/47 & 20/48 06/12/00
LATVIA**	No influenza activity. So far,no detection nor isolation	Week 20/48 06/12/00
LITHUANIA	No report so far
THE NETHERLANDS**	No influenza activity (week 20/47). No detection nor isolation so far	Weeks 20/47 & 20/48
NORWAY**	No detectable influenza activity.No detection nor isolation so far	Week 20/48 06/12/00
POLAND**	Influenza activity at seasonal levels with increasing incidence of ILI. No detection nor isolation so far	Week 20/49 04/12/00
PORTUGALR**	One detection/isolation of influenza A(H1N1) virus reported within the sentinel network	Week 20/48 06/12/00
ROMANIA	ARI at non epidemic level.No detection nor isolation of influenza virus so far	Week 20/47 30/11/00
RUSSIA and CIS c.	During the third quarter of year 2000, low influenza activity with sporadic cases of influenza A(H3N2), A(H1N1) & B	3rd quarter 2000
SLOVAK REPUBLIC**	Influenza activity at seasonal levels. No newinfluenza isolate	Week 20/49 04/12/00
SLOVENIA	No report so far
SPAIN**	Sporadic influenza activity reported but no detection nor isolation so far	Week 20/48 06/12/00
SWEDEN**	Sporadic influenza activity	Week 20/47
SWITZERLAND**	No influenza activity. No detection nor isolation so far	Week 20/48 06/12/00
UNITED KINGDOM**	All indicators continue to remain at low levels (week 20/47). 13 Influenza A detections/isolations and one influenza B virus isolation/detection reported in England for week 48.	Weeks 20/47 & 20/4829/11/00 & 06/12/00


Elsewhere in the world
USA**	Regional influenza activity was reported by 2 states and territorial health departments whereas sporadic activity was reported by 24. The other 24 reported no influenza activity. During week 47, 29 (4%) specimens were found positive: 19 were influenza A(H1N1) viruses, 2 A(H3N2) viruses, 5 were unsubtyped A viruses, and 3 wereB viruses.	Week 20/47 30/11/00
ISRAEL**	First influenza isolate reported (week 20/47). The virus was characterised as A(H1N1)	Weeks 46 to 20/48 03/12/00

Bulletin compiled 6th December 2000 by Jean-Claude Manuguerra

· ILI: influenza-like illness
· ARI : Acute Respiratory Infections
· ** NEW PIECE OF INFORMATION
· EISS members: http://eiss.org
New EuroGROG members