Epidemiology of the 2012 influenza season in Victoria, Australia
10.5365/WPSAR.2013.4.2.007
- Author:
Fielding James
;
Grant Kristina
;
Franklin Lucinda
;
Sullivan Sheena
;
Papadakis Georgina
;
Kelly Heath
;
Cheng Allen
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response
2013;4(3):42-50
- CountryWHO-WPRO
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective：To assess the magnitude and severity of the 2012 influenza season in Victoria, Australia using surveillance data from five sources.Methods：Data from influenza notifications, sentinel general practices, a sentinel hospital network, a sentinel locum service and strain typing databases for 2012 were descriptively analysed.Results：Influenza and influenza-like illness activity was moderate compared to previous years, although a considerable increase in notified laboratory-confirmed influenza was observed. Type A influenza comprised between 83% and 87% of cases from the general practitioners, hospitals and notifiable surveillance data. Influenza A/H3 was dominant in July and August, and most tested isolates were antigenically similar to the A/Perth/16/2009 virus used in the vaccine. There was a smaller peak of influenza type B in September. No tested viruses were resistant to any neuraminidase inhibitor antivirals. Higher proportions of type A/H3, hospitalized cases and those with a comorbid condition indicated for influenza vaccination were aged 65 years or older. Influenza vaccination coverage among influenza-like illness patients was 24% in sentinel general practices and 50% in hospitals.Discussion：The 2012 influenza season in Victoria was average compared to previous years, with an increased dominance of A/H3 accompanied by increases in older and hospitalized cases. Differences in magnitude and the epidemiological profile of cases detected by the different data sources demonstrate the importance of using a range of surveillance data to assess the relative severity of influenza seasons.
