FluWatch report: October 11 to October 17, 2015 (week 41)
Overall Summary
- Overall, there is low influenza activity in Canada.
- Influenza activity and detections decreased from the previous week.
- In week 41, no new influenza outbreaks were reported.
- So far this season, influenza A(H3N2) has been the most common subtype affecting Canadians.
- For more information on the flu, see our Flu (influenza) web page.
Are you a primary health care practitioner (General Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner or Registered Nurse) interested in becoming a FluWatch sentinel for the 2015-16 influenza season? 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
- 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
Influenza/Influenza-like Illness Activity (geographic spread)
In week 41, sporadic influenza activity were reported in a few regions across Canada. One region in Ontario reported localized activity. Overall, the majority of regions in Canada have reported no influenza activity.
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Figure 1 - Text Description
Laboratory Confirmed Influenza Detections
The number of positive influenza tests decreased from the previous week. In week 41, the percent positive for influenza detections remained low at 1.4%; however, this is the highest recorded value compared the previous five seasons during the same period (Figure 2).
In week 41, the majority of detections in Canada have been reported from BC, AB, and ON, accounting for 86% of the influenza detections in Canada. A total of six jurisdictions have yet to report any influenza cases. To date, 92% of influenza detections have been influenza A and the majority of those subtyped have been A(H3).
Figure 3 - Text Description
Reporting provincesTable Figure 3 - Footnote 1 | Weekly (October 11 to October 17, 2015) | Cumulative (August 30, 2015 to October 17, 2015) | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 86 | 1 | 60 | 25 | 3 | 89 |
AB | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 4 | 24 | 3 | 5 | 36 |
SK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
ON | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 65 | 14 | 29 | 22 | 7 | 72 |
QC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 14 |
NB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
PE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
YT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Canada | 35 | 4 | 15 | 16 | 2 | 200 | 19 | 116 | 65 | 17 | 217 |
Percentage Table Figure 3 - Footnote 2 | 94.6% | 11.4% | 42.9% | 45.7% | 5.4% | 92.2% | 9.5% | 58.0% | 32.5% | 7.8% | 100.0% |
Among cases with reported age, the largest proportion was in those ≥65 years of age (48%) (Table 1). Compared to the previous year during the same period, a greater proportion of cases in the 20-44 and 45-64 age groups have been reported to date (39% this year vs 22% last year).
Age groups (years) | Weekly (October 11 to October 17, 2015) | Cumulative (August 30, 2015 to October 17, 2015) | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Influenza A | B | Influenza A | B | Influenza A and B | ||||||||
A Total | A(H1) pdm09 | A(H3) | A Table 1 - Footnote UnS | Total | A Total | A(H1) pdm09 | A(H3) | A Table 1 - Footnote UnS | Total | # | % | |
<5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4.4% |
5-19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 7.1% |
20-44 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 25 | 13.7% |
45-64 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 7 | 27 | 10 | 3 | 47 | 25.8% |
65+ | 11 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 84 | 2 | 59 | 23 | 4 | 88 | 48.4% |
Unknown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.5% |
Total | 16 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 167 | 16 | 107 | 44 | 15 | 182 | 100.0% |
PercentageTable 1 - Footnote 2 | 88.9% | 6.3% | 43.8% | 50.0% | 11.1% | 91.8% | 9.6% | 64.1% | 26.3% | 8.2% | ||
For additional 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 influenza-like-illness (ILI) consultation rate increased from 17.1 consultations per 1,000 patient visits in week 40 to 22.3 per 1,000 visits in week 41. In week 41, the highest ILI consultation rate was found in the 0-4 age group and the lowest was found in the 5-19 age group (Figure 4).
Influenza Outbreak Surveillance
In week 41, no new outbreaks of influenza were reported (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Overall number of new laboratory-confirmed influenza outbreaksFigure 5 - Footnote 1 by report week, Canada, 2015-2016
Figure 5 - 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 |
Sentinel Pediatric Hospital Influenza Surveillance
Paediatric Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths (IMPACT)
To date, less than five laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated paediatric (≤16 years of age) hospitalizations have been reported by the Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT) network. All hospitalized cases were due to influenza A.
Figure 6. Percentage of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths with influenza reported by age-group, Canada, 2015-16, Paediatric hospitalizations (≤16 years of age, IMPACT)
Figure 6 - Text Description
Age-group (years) | Hospitalizations | ICU Admissions |
---|---|---|
0-5m | 0.0% | 0.0% |
6-23m | 0.0% | 0.0% |
2-4y | 0.0% | 0.0% |
5-9y | 0.0% | 0.0% |
10-16y | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Figure 7. Number of cases of influenza reported by sentinel hospital networks, by week, Canada, 2015-16 Paediatric hospitalizations (≤16 years of age, IMPACT)
Note: The number of hospitalizations reported through IMPACT represents a subset of all influenza-associated paediatric hospitalizations in Canada. Delays in the reporting of data may cause data to change retrospectively.
Figure 7 - Text Description
Report week | Influenza A | Influenza B |
---|---|---|
35 | 0 | 0 |
36 | 0 | 0 |
37 | 0 | 0 |
38 | 0 | 0 |
39 | 0 | 0 |
40 | 0 | 0 |
41 | 0 | 0 |
Provincial/Territorial Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths
Since the start of the 2015-16 season, 30 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations were reported from participating provinces and territoriesFootnote *. All but one hospitlaization was due to influenza A. The majority of were patients ≥65 years of age. Three ICU admissions have been reported.
Figure 8. Percentage of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths with influenza reported by age-group, Canada 2015-16
Figure 8 - Text Description
Age-group (years) | Hospitalizations (n=30) | ICU admissions (n=3) | Deaths (n=0) |
---|---|---|---|
0-4 | 3.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
5-19 | 3.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
20-44 | 13.3% | 33.3% | 0.0% |
45-64 | 20.0% | 33.3% | 0.0% |
65+ | 60.0% | 33.3% | 0.0% |
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 eight influenza viruses [5 A(H3N2) and 3 influenza B].
Influenza A (H3N2): Sequence analysis of the H3N2 viruses showed that all five viruses belonged to a genetic group for which most viruses were antigenically related to A/Switzerland/9715293/2013, the A(H3N2) component of the Northern Hemisphere's vaccine.
Influenza B: The three influenza B viruses characterized were antigenically similar to the vaccine strain B/Phuket/3073/2013.
The recommended components for the 2015-2016 northern hemisphere trivalent influenza vaccine include: an A/California/7/2009(H1N1)pdm09-like virus, an /Switzerland/9715293/2013(H3N2)-like virus, and a B/Phuket/3073/2013 -like virus (Yamagata lineage). For quadrivalent vaccines, the addition of a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus is recommended.
The NML receives a proportion of the number of influenza positive specimens from provincial laboratories for strain characterization and antiviral resistance testing. Characterization data reflect the results of haemagglutination inhibition (HAI) testing compared to the reference influenza strains recommended by WHO.
Antiviral Resistance
During the 2015-16 season, the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) as tested nine influenza viruses for resistance to oseltamivir and zanamivir. All viruses were sensitive to zanamivir and oseltamivir. All influenza A viruses tested were resistant to amantadine (Table 2).
Virus type and subtype | Oseltamivir | Zanamivir | Amantadine | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# tested | # resistant (%) | # tested | # resistant (%) | # tested | # resistant (%) | |
A (H3N2) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 (100%) |
A (H1N1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
B | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | NA Table 2 - Footnote * | NA Table 2 - Footnote * |
TOTAL | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
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
2 = Sporadic: sporadically occurring ILI and lab confirmed influenza detection(s) with no outbreaks detected within the influenza surveillance region Footnote †
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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