title: Influenza season 2012-2013 in Europe: moderate intensity, mixed (sub)types.
abstract: This paper summarizes influenza activity in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) in 2012-2013. The influenza season 2012-2013 in Europe lasted from early December to late April. Overall the severity of the season could be described as moderate, based on the ILI/ARI consultation rates and the percentage of sentinel specimens positive for influenza compared to previous seasons. Both influenza A and B viruses circulating accounted for 47% and 53% of positive sentinel specimens, respectively, with both A(H1) and A(H3) varying for dominance. Compared to outpatients, the proportion of laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalized cases infected by A(H1N1)pdm09 was significantly higher in middle-aged patients (33% vs. 17%, χ 2 = 66·6, P < 0·01). Despite a relatively good match between vaccine and circulating strains, vaccine effectiveness was estimated to be moderate.
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC),Stockholm,Sweden.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Snacken
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC),Stockholm,Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Broberg
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC),Stockholm,Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beauté
authors.affiliation: Public Health Directorate General,Regional Ministry of Health.Government of Castilla y León, Valladolid,Spain.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC),Stockholm,Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zucs
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC),Stockholm,Sweden.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Amato-Gauci
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology