FluWatch report: June 19 to July 16, 2016 (weeks 25-28)
Overall Summary
- Overall, influenza activity is at interseasonal levels and continues to decrease across Canada.
- For the first time since week 15, influenza A accounted for the majority of influenza detections.
- Sporadic activity is being reported in some parts of Canada; however, the majority of regions are reporting no influenza activity.
- No laboratory-confirmed influenza outbreaks have been reported since week 22 (beginning of June).
- Influenza-associated hospitalizations continue to decrease. Two hospitalizations were reported in week 28.
- For more information on the flu, see our Flu (influenza) web page.
If you are a primary health care practitioner (General Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner or Registered Nurse) interested in becoming a FluWatch sentinel for the 2016-17 influenza season, please contact us at FluWatch@phac-aspc.gc.ca
On this page
- Influenza/ILI Activity (geographic spread)
- Laboratory Confirmed Influenza Detections
- Influenza-like Illness Consultation Rate
- Pharmacy Surveillance
- Influenza Outbreak Surveillance
- Sentinel Pediatric Hospital Influenza Surveillance
- Provincial/Territorial Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths
- Influenza Strain Characterizations
- Antiviral Resistance
- International Influenza Reports
- FluWatch definitions for the 2015-2016 season
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Influenza/Influenza-like Illness Activity (geographic spread)
In weeks 25 to 28, influenza activity declined. Sporadic activity was reported in seven regions across six provinces (BC, AB, ON, QC, NB and NU). A total of 37 regions reported no influenza activity.
Laboratory Confirmed Influenza Detections
In weeks 25-28, the percentage of tests positive for influenza continued to decrease [from 1.2% in week 25 to 0.6% in week 28]. Compared to the previous five seasons, the percent positive (0.6%) reported in week 28 was within expected levels (confidence interval 0.4-0.7%) and remains at interseasonal levels.
Nationally in weeks 25-28, there were 59 positive influenza tests reported. Influenza A accounted for the majority of influenza detections, representing 68% of detections in weeks 25-28. To date, 72% of influenza detections have been influenza A and among those subtyped, the vast majority have been influenza A(H1N1) [91% (11074/12213)].
Figure 3. Cumulative numbers of positive influenza specimens by type/subtype and province, Canada, 2015-16
Note: Specimens from NT, YT, and NU are sent to reference laboratories in other provinces. Cumulative data includes updates to previous weeks.
Figure 3 - Text Description
Reporting provincesTable Figure 3 - Footnote 1 |
Weeks 25-28 (June 19 to July 16, 2016) | Cumulative (August 30, 2015 to July 16, 2016) | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Influenza A | B | Influenza A | B | A & B Total |
|||||||
A Total |
A (H1)pdm09 |
A (H3) |
A Table Figure 3 - Footnote UnS | B Total |
A Total |
A (H1)pdm09 |
A (H3) |
ATable Figure 3 - Footnote UnS | B Total |
||
BC | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2081 | 1033 | 367 | 681 | 1168 | 3169 |
AB | <5 | <5 | <5 | 0 | <5 | 3966 | 3642 | 210 | 114 | 1674 | 5640 |
SK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2337 | 1514 | 47 | 776 | 829 | 3166 |
MB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | <5 | 899 | 186 | 38 | 675 | 241 | 1140 |
ON | 9 | <5 | <5 | <5 | <5 | 7696 | 3268 | 419 | 4009 | 2864 | 10560 |
QC | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 8979 | 1026 | 8 | 7945 | 3867 | 12846 |
NB | <5 | <5 | 0 | <5 | <5 | 1175 | 101 | 5 | 1069 | 154 | 1329 |
NS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 302 | 0 | <5 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | 11 | 313 |
PE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 54 | 12 | 0 | <5 | 69 |
NL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 472 | 101 | <5 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | 28 | 500 |
YT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 53 | <5 | <5 | 19 | 77 |
NT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 90 | 27 | 5 | 20 | 142 |
NU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | <5 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 34 | 59 |
Canada | 40 | 11 | 10 | 19 | 19 | 28178 | 11074 | 1139 | 15965 | 10912 | 39090 |
Percentage Table Figure 3 - Footnote 2 | 68% | 28% | 25% | 48% | 32% | 72% | 39% | 4% | 57% | 28% | 100% |
|
To date this season, detailed information on age and type/subtype has been received for 33,479 cases. Children and teenagers (0-19yrs) accounted for 48% of influenza B cases and approximately one third of all influenza cases. Children and teenagers (0-19yrs), young adults (20-44yrs) and middle-aged adults (45-64yrs) accounted for approximately an equal proportion of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
Age groups (years) | Weeks 25-28 (June 19 to July 16, 2016) | Cumulative (August 30, 2015 to July 16, 2016) | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Influenza A | B | Influenza A | B | Influenza A and B | ||||||||
A Total | A(H1) pdm09 | A(H3) | A UnSTable 1 - Footnote 3 | Total | A Total | A(H1) pdm09 | A(H3) | A UnSTable 1 - Footnote 3 | Total | # | % | |
<5 | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | 4541 | 1718 | 76 | 2747 | 1772 | 6313 | 19% |
5-19 | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | 2409 | 1026 | 102 | 1281 | 2703 | 5112 | 15% |
20-44 | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | 5827 | 2763 | 167 | 2897 | 2205 | 8032 | 24% |
45-64 | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | 6414 | 2808 | 203 | 3403 | 1108 | 7522 | 22% |
65+ | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | 4888 | 1633 | 452 | 2803 | 1612 | 6500 | 19% |
Total | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | 24079 | 9948 | 1000 | 13131 | 9400 | 33479 | 100% |
PercentageTable 1 - Footnote 2 | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | Table 1 - Footnote x | 72% | 41% | 4% | 55% | 28% | ||
|
For data on other respiratory virus detections see the Respiratory Virus Detections in Canada Report on the Public Health Agency of Canada website.
Influenza-like Illness Consultation Rate
The national ILI consultation rate between weeks 25 and 28 fluctuated but remained within the same range as the previous report. In week 28, the ILI consultation rate was 23.4 per 1,000 patient visits compared to 13.4 in week 24. In week 28, the highest ILI consultation rate was found in the 0-4 years age group (43.4 per 1,000) and the lowest was found in the ≥65 years of age group (6.7 per 1,000) (Figure 4).
Pharmacy Surveillance
In the period of weeks 25-28, the proportion of prescriptions for antivirals continued to decrease steadily to 2.5 antiviral prescriptions per 100,000 total prescriptions in week 28. This rate is lower than the five year historical average for week 28. The proportion of prescriptions for antivirals remains highest among children. In week 28, the proportion reported among children was 8.4 per 100,000 total prescriptions.
Influenza Outbreak Surveillance
In weeks 25-28, no new laboratory confirmed influenza outbreaks were reported. One ILI outbreak was reported in week 25.
To date this season, 428 outbreaks have been reported. At week 28 in the 2014-15 season, 1,732 outbreaks were reported and in the 2013-14 season, 268 outbreaks were reported.
Figure 6. Overall number of new laboratory-confirmed influenza outbreaksFigure 5 - Footnote 1 by report week, Canada, 2015-2016
Figure 6 - Text Description
Report week | Hospitals | Long Term Care Facilities | Other |
---|---|---|---|
35 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
37 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
39 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
40 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
41 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
42 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
43 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
44 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
45 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
46 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
47 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
48 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
49 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
50 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
51 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
52 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
4 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
5 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
6 | 8 | 10 | 3 |
7 | 2 | 17 | 8 |
8 | 6 | 27 | 7 |
9 | 13 | 24 | 8 |
10 | 9 | 23 | 14 |
11 | 2 | 21 | 4 |
12 | 9 | 15 | 5 |
13 | 5 | 12 | 4 |
14 | 2 | 14 | 1 |
15 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
16 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
17 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
18 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
19 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
20 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
21 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
22 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
29 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
32 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
34 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sentinel Pediatric Hospital Influenza Surveillance
Paediatric Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths
In weeks 25-28, three laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric (≤16 years of age) hospitalizations were reported by the Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT) network (Figure 7). One new ICU admission was reported in week 27.
A total of 225 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions have been reported to date. Children aged 2 to 4 and 5 to 9 years eachaccounted for 27% of ICU admissions . A total of 158 ICU cases (70%) reported at least one underlying condition or comorbidity. Eight influenza-associated deaths have been reported.
To date this season, 1,364 hospitalizations have been reported by the IMPACT network: 903 cases (66%) were due to influenza A and 461 cases (34%) were due to influenza B. This season’s count of pediatric hospitalizations is nearly double that reported up to week 28 in the 2014-15 season (N=713). The total number of cases for the current season also exceeds the total number of cases reported in the past five seasons.
Age Groups | Cumulative (30 Aug. 2015 to 16 July 2016) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Influenza A | Influenza B | Influenza A and B | ||||
A Total | A(H1) pdm09 | A(H3) | A (UnS) | B Total | ||
0-5m | 124 | 33 | <5 | Table 2 - Footnote x | 40 | 164 (12%) |
6-23m | 282 | 81 | 7 | 194 | 99 | 381 (28%) |
2-4y | 256 | 80 | 5 | 171 | 117 | 373 (27%) |
5-9y | 182 | 50 | <5 | Table 2 - Footnote x | 146 | 328 (24%) |
10-16y | 59 | 18 | <5 | Table 2 - Footnote x | 59 | 118 (9%) |
Total | 903 | 262 | 21 | 620 | 461 | 1364 (100%) |
|
Figure 7. Number of cases of influenza reported by sentinel hospital networks, by week, Canada, 2015-16, paediatric and adult hospitalizations (≤16 years of age, IMPACT; ≥16 years of age, CIRN-SOS)
Not included in Table 2 and Figure 7 are two IMPACT cases that were due to co-infections of influenza A and B.
Figure 7 - Text Description
Report week | IMPACT | CIRN-SOS |
---|---|---|
35 | 0 | 0 |
36 | 0 | 0 |
37 | 1 | 0 |
38 | 2 | 0 |
39 | 0 | 0 |
40 | 0 | 0 |
41 | 1 | 0 |
42 | 0 | 0 |
43 | 1 | 0 |
44 | 0 | 2 |
45 | 2 | 0 |
46 | 1 | 3 |
47 | 2 | 1 |
48 | 2 | 1 |
49 | 3 | 7 |
50 | 3 | 3 |
51 | 6 | 7 |
52 | 13 | 11 |
1 | 20 | 20 |
2 | 14 | 14 |
3 | 24 | 26 |
4 | 39 | 21 |
5 | 50 | 45 |
6 | 78 | 54 |
7 | 107 | 93 |
8 | 143 | 131 |
9 | 145 | 117 |
10 | 149 | 130 |
11 | 117 | 120 |
12 | 90 | 88 |
13 | 66 | 91 |
14 | 56 | 69 |
15 | 63 | 44 |
16 | 42 | 43 |
17 | 36 | 17 |
18 | 29 | 0 |
19 | 22 | 0 |
20 | 18 | 0 |
21 | 8 | 0 |
22 | 6 | 0 |
23 | 1 | 0 |
24 | 1 | 0 |
25 | 0 | 0 |
26 | 0 | 0 |
27 | 1 | 0 |
28 | 2 | 0 |
29 | 0 | 0 |
30 | 0 | 0 |
31 | 0 | 0 |
32 | 0 | 0 |
33 | 0 | 0 |
34 | 0 | 0 |
Adult Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths
Surveillance for the 2015-2016 influenza season ended on April 30th, 2016 (week 20).
For the 2015-16 season, 1,153 hospitalizations have been reported by CIRN-SOS (Table 3). The majority of hospitalized cases were due to influenza A (81%) and the largest reported proportion was among adults ≥65 years of age (50%). One hundred and ninety-one intensive care unit (ICU) admissions have been reported of which 132 cases reported at least one underlying condition or comorbidity. A total of 55 deaths have been reported this season with the majority of deaths reported in adults ≥65 years of age (62%).
Age groups (years) | Cumulative (1 Nov. 2015 to April 30, 2016) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Influenza A | B | Influenza A and B | ||||
A Total | A(H1) pdm09 | A(H3) | A(UnS) | Total | # (%) | |
16-20 | Table 3 - Footnote x | <5 | 0 | <5 | <5 | Table 3 - Footnote x |
20-44 | 144 | 50 | <5 | Table 3 - Footnote x | 46 | 190 (16%) |
45-64 | 331 | 105 | <5 | Table 3 - Footnote x | 46 | 377 (33%) |
65+ | 452 | 125 | 24 | 303 | 123 | 575 (50%) |
Unknown | <5 | Table 3 - Footnote x | 0 | <5 | <5 | <5 |
Total | 934 | 285 | 28 | 621 | 219 | 1153 |
% | 81% | 31% | 3% | 66% | 19% | 100% |
|
Figure 8. Percentage of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths with influenza reported by age-group (≥16 year of age), Canada 2015-16Figure 8 - Footnote *
Figure 8 - Text Description
Age-group (years) | Hospitalizations (n=1149) | ICU admissions (n=191) | Deaths (n=50) |
---|---|---|---|
16-20 | 0.6% | Table Figure 8 - Footnote x% | Table Figure 8 - Footnote x% |
20-44 | 16.5% | Table Figure 8 - Footnote x% | Table Figure 8 - Footnote x% |
45-64 | 32.8% | 46.1% | 34.5% |
65+ | 50.0% | 34.6% | 61.8% |
|
Provincial/Territorial Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths
In week 28, two hospitalizations were reported by participating provinces and territoriesFootnote *. In total, 33 hospitalizations were reported in weeks 25-28, with the number of cases decreasing each week. No new ICU admissions were reported during the week 25-28 period.
Since the start of the 2015-16 season, 5,350 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations have been reported. A total of 4,151 hospitalizations (78%) were due to influenza A and 1,199 (22%) were due to influenza B. Of the 538 ICU admissions reported, 475 (88%) were due to influenza A. A total of 267 deaths have been reported; all but 42 were associated with influenza A.
Overall this season, hospitalizations have been reported more frequently among adults ≥65 years of age. The largest proportion of ICU admissions was reported in adults 45-64years of age and the highest proportion of fatal cases was reported in adults ≥65 years of age (Figure 9). Pediatric (0-19 years) accounted for 29% of all hospitalizations and 5% of all deaths reported to date this season. Similar to findings from the IMPACT network, there have been more pediatric hospitalizations reported to date compared to the year-end totals in each of the previous four influenza seasons.
Figure 9. Percentage of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths with influenza reported by age-group, Canada 2015-16
Figure 9 - Text Description
Age-group (years) | Hospitalizations (n=5350) | ICU admissions (n=538) | Deaths (n=267) |
---|---|---|---|
0-4 | 18.9% | 8.9% | 1.9% |
5-19 | 9.7% | 6.1% | 3.0% |
20-44 | 13.0% | 17.8% | 7.5% |
45-64 | 26.2% | 44.2% | 34.5% |
65+ | 32.2% | 22.9% | 53.2% |
See additional data on Reported Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths in Canada: 2011-12 to 2015-16 on the Public Health Agency of Canada website.
Influenza Strain Characterizations
During the 2015-16 influenza season, the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) has characterized 2,977 influenza viruses [249 A(H3N2), 1,484 A(H1N1) and 1,244 influenza B].
Influenza A (H3N2): When tested by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays, 79 A(H3N2) viruses were antigenically characterized as A/Switzerland/9715293/2013-like using antiserum raised against cell-propagated A/Switzerland/9715293/2013.
Sequence analysis was done on 170 A(H3N2) viruses. All viruses belonged to a genetic group for which most viruses were antigenically related to A/Switzerland/9715293/2013.
A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 is the A(H3N2) component of the 2015-16 Northern Hemisphere's vaccine.
Influenza A (H1N1): All of the 1,484 A(H1N1) viruses characterized were antigenically similar to A/California/7/2009, the A(H1N1) component of the 2015-16 influenza vaccine.
Influenza B: A total of 260 influenza B viruses characterized were antigenically similar to the vaccine strain B/Phuket/3073/2013. A total of 984 influenza B viruses were characterized as B/Brisbane/60/2008-like, one of the influenza B components of the 2015-16 Northern Hemisphere quadrivalent influenza vaccine.
The NML receives a proportion of the influenza positive specimens from provincial laboratories for strain characterization and antiviral resistance testing. Characterization data reflect the results of haemagglutination inhibition testing compared to the reference influenza strains recommended by WHO.
Antiviral Resistance
During the 2015-16 season, the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) has tested 2,103 influenza viruses for resistance to oseltamivir and zanamivir and 1,749 influenza viruses for resistance to amantadine. All but 10 tested viruses were sensitive to oseltamivir. The 10 H1N1 viruses resistant to oseltamivir had a H275Y mutation. All viruses tested for resistance were sensitive to zanamivir. All but two influenza A viruses were resistant to amantadine (Table 4).
Virus type and subtype | Oseltamivir | Zanamivir | Amantadine | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# tested | # resistant (%) | # tested | # resistant (%) | # tested | # resistant (%) | |
A (H3N2) | 192 | 0 (0%) | 192 | 0 (0%) | 253 | 252 (99.6%) |
A (H1N1) | 1126 | 10 (0.9%) | 1126 | 0 (0%) | 1496 | 1495 (99.9%) |
B | 785 | 0 (0%) | 785 | 0 (0%) | NATable 4 - Footnote * | NATable 4 - Footnote * |
Total | 2103 | 10 (0.5%) | 2103 | 0 (0%) | 1749 | 1747 (99.9%) |
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International Influenza Reports
- World Health Organization influenza update
- World Health Organization FluNet
- WHO Influenza at the human-animal interface
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seasonal influenza report
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - epidemiological data
- South Africa Influenza surveillance report
- New Zealand Public Health Surveillance
- Australia Influenza Report
- Pan-American Health Organization Influenza Situation Report
FluWatch definitions for the 2015-2016 season
Abbreviations: Newfoundland/Labrador (NL), Prince Edward Island (PE), New Brunswick (NB), Nova Scotia (NS), Quebec (QC), Ontario (ON), Manitoba (MB), Saskatchewan (SK), Alberta (AB), British Columbia (BC), Yukon (YT), Northwest Territories (NT), Nunavut (NU).
Influenza-like-illness (ILI): Acute onset of respiratory illness with fever and cough and with one or more of the following - sore throat, arthralgia, myalgia, or prostration which is likely due to influenza. In children under 5, gastrointestinal symptoms may also be present. In patients under 5 or 65 and older, fever may not be prominent.
ILI/Influenza outbreaks
- Schools:
-
Greater than 10% absenteeism (or absenteeism that is higher (e.g. >5-10%) than expected level as determined by school or public health authority) which is likely due to ILI.
Note: it is recommended that ILI school outbreaks be laboratory confirmed at the beginning of influenza season as it may be the first indication of community transmission in an area. - Hospitals and residential institutions:
- two or more cases of ILI within a seven-day period, including at least one laboratory confirmed case. Institutional outbreaks should be reported within 24 hours of identification. Residential institutions include but not limited to long-term care facilities ( LTCF) and prisons.
- Workplace:
- Greater than 10% absenteeism on any day which is most likely due to ILI.
- Other settings:
- two or more cases of ILI within a seven-day period, including at least one laboratory confirmed case; i.e. closed communities.
Note that reporting of outbreaks of influenza/ILI from different types of facilities differs between jurisdictions.
Influenza/ILI activity level
1 = No activity: no laboratory-confirmed influenza detections in the reporting week, however, sporadically occurring ILI may be reported
3 = Localized:
- evidence of increased ILIFootnote * and
- lab confirmed influenza detection(s) together with
- outbreaks in schools, hospitals, residential institutions and/or other types of facilities occurring in less than 50% of the influenza surveillance regionFootnote †
4 = Widespread:
- evidence of increased ILIFootnote * and
- lab confirmed influenza detection(s) together with
- outbreaks in schools, hospitals, residential institutions and/or other types of facilities occurring in greater than or equal to 50% of the influenza surveillance regionFootnote †
Note: ILI data may be reported through sentinel physicians, emergency room visits or health line telephone calls.
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