title: Local surveillance of influenza in the United Kingdom: from sentinel general practices to sentinel cities?
abstract: Surveillance of influenza in England and Wales utilises a disparate geographical network of general practices to provide clinical data in the form of weekly consultation rates for influenza and 'influenza-like illness'. This network accurately detects and monitors seasonal influenza activity at national and supra-regional levels. Localised regional and sub-regional epidemics are less easily detected. We describe a localised epidemic of influenza affecting a deprived urban community in the North West of England that was detected by a close knit network of general practices participating in the surveillance of communicable diseases as part of a primary care health needs assessment initiative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Liverpool Health Authority. mregan@phls.org.uk
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Johnstone
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urwin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D029521:Alphainfluenzavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D029524:Betainfluenzavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000401:mortality; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012621:Seasons; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology