Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2003.
Surveillance of influenza in Australia is based on laboratory isolation of influenza viruses, sentinel general-practitioner practices for influenza-like illness, and absenteeism data from a major national employer. In 2003, the peak in influenza activity was in August which was later than in 2002. In 2003, 3,604 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza were notified to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, which was marginally lower than for the previous year. Ninety-four per cent of the circulating viruses were influenza A. This was the highest proportion in the last five years. Nine hundred and thirty-five isolates were antigenically analysed: 928 were A(H3), two were A(H1) strains and five were influenza B viruses. The majority (98%) of the A(H3) subtypes were A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2)-like and have shown a significant antigenic drift. The 2003 Australian influenza vaccine contained A/Panama/2007/99, which induced 2-4-fold lower antibody response against the drifted strain. An A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2)-like virus has been incorporated in the Australian influenza vaccine for 2004. In 2003, the influenza vaccine was given to 77 per cent of Australians aged over 65 years; the same up take as in 2002.
Surveillance and Epidemiology Section, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, MDP 6, GPO 9848, Canberra ACT 2601. kefle.yohannes@health.gov.au
Keflemariam
K
Yohannes
Paul
P
Roche
Alan
A
Hampson
Megge
M
Miller
Jenean
J
Spencer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000847:Annual Reports as Topic; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018563:Disease Notification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D015994:Incidence; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends
D007252:Influenza Vaccines