Current Trends
Update: Influenza Activity -- Worldwide
Beginning in November, influenza virus activity shifts from the
southern to the northern hemisphere. Thus, isolates of influenza
viruses are increasing in Canada, Trinidad, the United States,
Japan,
and Europe and are declining in South America, Oceania, and
southern
Asia.
Europe. In France, an influenza type A(H1N1) epidemic has been
reported. It began in the northern and central regions but spread
in
December to all regions and affected primarily children and young
adults. Several influenza type A(H3N2) viruses also have been
isolated
in France. Type A(H1N1) virus has spread to Italy, Switzerland,
United
Kingdom, and West Germany, with large outbreaks in some of these
countries. Sweden and the Netherlands have reported influenza type
A(H3N2) isolation. Outbreaks have occurred in central Sweden among
all
age groups. In Norway, type A(H1N1) was isolated first in Oslo;
type
A(H3N2) virus has also been isolated from outbreaks in the
southeast.
Finland has reported influenza type A virus of unknown subtype.
Asia. Activity in much of southeast Asia has declined; only
sporadic
isolates of unknown type occurred during September and October in
Thailand and Taiwan. However, in Japan, where influenza type B was
first isolated in October, influenza type A(H1N1) outbreaks since
have
occurred among schoolchildren. Influenza activity has increased
rapidly, as indicated by absenteeism in schools. Influenza B was
also
isolated in Hong Kong and Singapore in September and October. In
the
People's Republic of China, activity has been lower than last year.
Of
17 isolates from sporadic cases, 11 were type A(H1N1), two were
type
A(H3N2), and four were type B.
Americas and Oceania. No new influenza cases have been reported
from
Oceania and South America since September. However, an island-wide
outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) virus occurred in Trinidad during
September, and one isolate of influenza type B was also recovered.
Canada reported the first isolates of the 1988-89 influenza season
from
type A(H1N1) virus activity in late November and early December.
Most
isolates were from Alberta, but others were reported from Manitoba
and
British Columbia. Influenza type B has been isolated from 14 states
in
the United States; several outbreaks have occurred in schools. Type
A(H3N2) virus and type A(H1N1) virus have also been reported from a
few
locations in the United States.
Reported by: National Influenza Centers, Communicable Diseases Div,
World Health Organization, Geneva. WHO Collaborating Center for
Influenza, Epidemiology Office and Influenza Br, Div of Viral
Diseases,
Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC.
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