title: Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2004.
abstract: The National Influenza Surveillance Scheme includes data on influenza-like illness from sentinel general practitioner practices, laboratory reports of influenza from National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance Scheme and absenteeism data from a national employer. In 2004, 2,116 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza-like illness were reported, which was 41 per cent lower than the previous year. Peak activity was recorded in September, a month later than in 2003. Influenza A was again predominant while influenza B had an increased activity compared to the previous season. Four hundred and fifty-four isolates were antigenically analysed: 342 were A (H3N2 strain), 4 were A(H1N1 strain) strains and 108 were influenza B viruses. Further antigenic drift was seen in the A(H3N2) subtype with approximately one third of all isolates antigenically distinguishable from the A/Fujian/411/2002 reference strain. Vaccination coverage indicated that 79 per cent of Australians aged over 65 years received the 2004 influenza vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Communicable Disease Management and Policy Section, Biosecurity and Disease Control Branch, Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. janet.li@health.gov.au
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hampson
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: Keflemariam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yohannes
authors.forename: Jenean D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D018563:Disease Notification; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000235:genetics; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012621:Seasons