This is the highest number of patient claims since the 2009 flu season. Who recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for. B victoria lineage viruses in the 2015 australian influenza season. James e fielding, annette k regan, craig b dalton, monique bn chilver and sheena. The australian influenza surveillance report aisr is published on a fortnightly basis during the influenza season, typically between may and october. Influenza is caused by a virus and causes more severe illness than the common cold.
For summaries of the latest influenza statistics in australian states and territories, and a brief overview of the season in new zealand, click the link below to our immunisation coalition website. During the 20142015 flu season, cdc recommended use of the. Influenza activity updates may be published outside of the seasonal period. If you have not received your programme pack, please click on the influenza resource order form on the resources page.
Flu seasons also exist in the tropics and subtropics, but are usually less. Note that the many people with influenza in the community do not get tested for influenza, and that there may be delays in the reporting of confirmed influenza cases. For detailed information concerning influenza, please visit the hdoh disease outbreak control division hdoh docd website here. The data in this report reflect the 201920 influenza season which 1began the week ending october 5, 2019 week 40 2019 and will end the week ending on september 26, 2020 week 39 2020. In birds, humans, and pigs, the virus has mutated into many strains.
The 2015 season in australia saw an unusual predominance of influenza b with a distinctive switch during the season from byamagata1688 lineage viruses to bvictoria287 lineage viruses. The number of influenza notifications in australia varies widely from year to year, for example there were around 90,800 notifications of influenza in 2016, and over a quarter of a million notifications in 2017 around 3,800 and 10,200 notifications per. The cdcs decision to play up flu deaths dates back a decade, when it realized the public wasnt following its advice on the flu vaccine. While you can catch the flu at any time, its more likely to happen in the colder months of the year april to october. Since that may foretell a serious outbreak on its way in the united states, public health experts now are urging americans. Influenza notifications influenza is a notifiable disease in australia. Aivc recommendations for the composition of influenza vaccine for. Influenza is a respiratory virus more like a severe cold that causes high. The peak month of flu activity is the month with the highest percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza virus infection during that influenza season. Flu season deaths per year in the united states and. From early this year its been apparent the 2019 australian influenza season.
Australia is headed for a severe flu season with doctors advising people take precautions to protect themselves from getting sick and. Influenza a viruses were more commonly detected until late february 2015, after which there was substantial influenza b activity. Jun 14, 2019 influenza notifications in wa by week, 2015 to 2019. Find information on coronavirus disease 2019 covid19. Australia on track for killer flu season as experts urge. Australian influenza surveillance report no 12 23 september to 06 october 2019 pdf. Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for. While there was some geographic variation across australia, in general the 2018 influenza season saw very low levels of activity compared to recent years. Bvictoria lineage viruses in the 2015 australian influenza season. Ah3n2 and byamagata funded under the national immunisation program nip quadrivalent inactivated vaccine qiv covered the same 3 strains as tiv plus a second b strain. Estimates of the demand for mechanical ventilation in the. Headlines about this years flu season have been alarming. Pharmacist vaccinators with a contract to administer funded influenza vaccines can administer and claim for influenza vaccination of eligible individuals aged years and over from 18 march 2020.
Regional reporting in some areas ceases when flu activity is low out of season. Please note that many people do not get tested for influenza and that there may also be some delays in reporting confirmed. About 59 percent of kids and 41 percent of adults got flu shots. The aisr aims to increase awareness of influenza activity in australia by providing an analysis of the various surveillance data sources throughout. Influenza or the flu is a highly contagious, acute viral infection that spreads easily from person to person. A similar strain called h1n1 was responsible for the 1918 flu pandemic, and the 2009 swine flu. Oct 04, 2019 australia had an unusually early and fairly severe flu season this year. You can order a range of printed resources, including this years flu kit booklet 2020 everything you need to know about flu. There are 3 types of influenza virus which affect people influenza a, b and c, but only a.
Rapid communications realtime safety surveillance of. Recommendations for the 20142015 season are available in the morbidity and mortality weekly report mmwr prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines. A severe 2017 influenza season dominated by influenza ah3n2. It is easily spread from person to person through methods such as coughing or sneezing and is often seasonal, occurring in winter months in australia department of health, 2015. During this 36year period, flu activity most often peaked in february 15 seasons, followed by december 7 seasons, january 6 seasons and march 6 seasons. The symposium was attended by almost 200 delegates, including representatives from the biomedical, clinical, research, public health, government and industry sectors. Last year there were 58,570 confirmed influenza cases in australia, although the laboratory numbers do. As the flu season comes to an end, were beginning to understand why it was so bad. The flu season typically peaks in august, but laboratoryconfirmed cases of influenza have been higher than usual so far this year as have calls about flurelated symptoms to the healthdirect helpline. As the flu season comes to an end, were beginning to understand why. The last pandemic hit in 200910 when swine flu emerged in mexico, while the deadly spanish flu pandemic of 1918 claimed up to 100 million lives infecting a third of the worlds population. Winter respiratory illness and influenza data june 11, 2019. Nov 02, 2017 australia has recorded 221,853 flu infections so far in 2017, more than any other year. Those aged between 5 and 9 years of age recorded the highest influenza rates, followed by young teens and then those under 5 years old.
Australian influenza surveillance report and activity updates 2015. Influenza activity surveillance 2020 this report provides a summary of surveillance data collected from around australia and new zealand. Death rate per 100,000 age standardized select cause. Flu season in queensland is typically from june to september, with a peak usually in august. How severe was the 2015 influenza season in australia. The relative proportion of each type and subtype varied by geographic region and by week. The 2019 flu season will suck for america just ask australia.
Australian influenza surveillance report no 12 23 september to 06 october 2019 word. An estimated 80,000 americans died of flu and its complications last winter. Type b influenza can be just as severe as type a influenza but is less common throughout the flu season compared to type a. For example, in australia and new zealand, in the 2010 influenza season, ventilated patients were on a ventilator for 8. Have you noticed australias flu seasons seem to be getting. Influenza flu the australian immunisation handbook.
Apr 10, 2019 health experts are warning australia is on track for a killer flu season, with numbers showing three times as many people have been diagnosed with the virus so far this year, compared to the same. Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious respiratory illness. This years flu vaccine is not a very good match for a common strain of the flu thats especially tough on children, according to the nations top infectious disease doctor. During the 2015 influenza season in melbourne, australia, weekly forecasts were presented at health department surveillance unit meetings, where they were evaluated and updated in light. Please check your mail or po box for your programme pack. In 2017, a terrible flu season in australia presaged an american outbreak in which 79,000 died. Therefore data presented here may tend to underrepresent current influenza activity in nsw. Flu seasons also exist in the tropics and subtropics, but are usually less sharply defined. The 2015 program start date has been put back due to a double strain change from the 2014 influenza vaccine which has led to manufacturing delays. Australian influenza surveillance report 2019 influenza season in. Funded influenza vaccine can be administered to eligible individuals aged 6 months or older and claimed from 18 march 2020. S take everyday preventive actions to slow the spread of flu and other respiratory viruses, including the new coronavirus that causes covid19 cdc recommends.
Anzic influenza investigators, webb sa, pettila v, et al. It comes as a horror flu season sweeps australia, with more than 7,500 cases confirmed across the country by the start of september. Media coverage of the 2015 influenza season in australia depicted a severe influenza season, focusing on the record number of laboratoryconfirmed influenza cases notified to health authorities. In 2019, there was a wider distribution of influenza onset in queensland between march and october, with the peak occurring in august. Department of health australian influenza surveillance. During the 2003 flu season the manufacturers were telling. Flu season deaths per year in the united states and worldwide. Differential age susceptibility to influenza bvictoria.
We are looking for people who live in australia and new zealand and have easy access to email on a weekly basis. Racgp seasonal influenza vaccination in aboriginal children. Influenza notifications in wa by week, 2015 to 2019. Odh monitors circulating flu viruses and other related data sources and provides weekly summaries of influenza activity from october week 40 through may week 20. Flu viruses mutate every year, and its common to see several strains of flu during the same season. Australias fl u season peaks australia has just reached the peak of its flu season but health experts say there is no cause for panic if people take a few simple measures. Influenza commonly known as the flu is a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease that can be spread through coughing and sneezing. Sep 14, 2017 bad flu season in australia could be headed for u. Influenza update 364 30 march 2020 update number 364, based on data up to 15 march 2020. This only makes it all the essential that people of this age group take the flu vaccine every year. The 20152016 flu season started a little later than the previous three flu seasons.
Sep 26, 2018 the 20172018 flu season was one of the deadliest in decades according to the cdc. Flutracking is an online health surveillance system to detect epidemics of influenza. About 3 to 5 million cases of severe flu illness and about 250 000 to 500 000 flu season deaths worldwide occur due to the influenza virus. The ohio department of health tracks seasonal influenza activity on a weekly basis throughout the year. Australia has recorded 221,853 flu infections so far in 2017, more than any other year. We cant be sure but proxy influenza surveillance sources suggest the current influenza. However, we have the exact number of pediatric flu deaths that occurred year wise from the flu season of 20032004 to 2015 2015 in the unites states. Experts usually look to the southern hemispheres influenza season to predict what might start happening here in the. If you have any concerns, comments or questions about this survey now or later, feel free to contact craig dalton directly at craig.
Its a common cause of hospitalisation and leads to thousands more gp visits every year. Experts are warning australia is headed for a severe flu season and say this may be due to delays with the rollout of vaccines early in the season. Flu influenza can be caused by different strains, called a, b and c. The relative severity of the victoria season could be. Sep 28, 2018 the 2017 influenza season in victoria was dominated by circulation of influenza ah3n2 with an increase in influenza b later in the season. Influenza b viruses make up an important part of the burden from seasonal influenza globally. Influenza fast facts influenza specialist group isg. Jun 25, 2015 have you noticed australias flu seasons seem to be getting worse.
Australia s severe flu season may shed light on whats in store for the u. The australian influenza vaccine committee aivc met at tga. Influenza a can be found in many species, while influenza b is essentially a human disease. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2015 2016 influenza season northern hemisphere winter contain the following. In australia, the influenza season typically begins in may, peaks between.
In years in which h3n2 is the predominant strain, there are more hospitalizations. Recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices acip united states, 201415 influenza season. Influenza b viruses predominated from the week ending february 28, 2015 week 8 through the week ending may 23, 2015 week 20. At the time, use of influenza vaccine in australia was very low around 500,000 doses year compared to over 7. Critical care services and 2009 h1n1 influenza in australia and new zealand. The paper also describes the strengths and limitations of these systems in terms of the aspect of influenza activity that they inform and their contribution to the overall monitoring of influenza activity in australia. Seasonal influenza vaccination 2020 immunisation programs. During the seven influenza seasons, notifications for ah1n1pdm09 decreased and for influenza b increased. Flu vaccines used in 2015 trivalent inactivated vaccines tiv covered three flu strains 2 influenza a and 1 influenza b two strain changes from 2014. In the tropical areas the pattern can be more variable and may include clusters outside this period. Western australias current flu season is the most severe. Assessing interventions to improve influenza vaccine uptake.
We were pleased to hold the th australian influenza symposium ais on 2829 october 2019, at the queensland university of technology qut. Coronavirus peak set for flu season the peak of covid19 cases in australia is yet to come, with estimates numbers will double about every three to six days. This was similar in new zealand and western australia for their 2017 season and the united states of america and canada for their 201718 seasons. The australian influenza vaccine committee recommendation for the composition of influenza vaccines for australia in 2020 introduces three new strains when compared to the composition of the trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines for australia in 2019. Flu vaccination has been shown to prevent flu illnesses, doctors visits and hospitalizations and can be lifesaving in children 20192020 preliminary in. Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2015 2016 northern hemisphere influenza season 26 february 2015.
In australia, the flu season is considered may to october. Influenza is most often caused by type a or b influenza viruses that infect the upper airways and lungs. Flu season is an annually recurring time period characterized by the prevalence of outbreaks of influenza flu. What will the rest of the 20192020 flu season be like. At least 1,300 people have died from the flu so far this season, according to a preliminary estimate released friday by the us centers for disease control and prevention. Children, in particular, are being smashed by this flu season.
The australian influenza surveillance report is published on a fortnightly basis during the influenza season, typically between may and october. A summary of influenza surveillance systems in australia, 2015. The answer depends on how much and which data one consults. Influenza activity can sometimes be predicted and even tracked geographically. Flu season deaths top 80,000 last year, cdc says cnn.
The influenza specialist group had its beginnings in 1990 due to an unexpected demand for influenza vaccine in australia. T he 20182019 flu season may not have been as severe as the one that came before it, but it set a record of its own, the centers for disease control and prevention cdc say. For the 2015 influenza season, the tga has registered nine vaccines. Its a bad year for flu, but its too early to call it the worst ever 5. The majority of disease in australia is caused by a and b. If you get sick with flu like symptoms, stay home from work, school and errands to prevent spreading your illness to others. Hospitalizations and flu season deaths occur mainly among the highrisk groups such as young children below the age of 5 years, the elderly above the age of 65 years, and those with chronic medical illnesses.
Australia has reported 98,000 confirmed cases of the flu this season more than double the rate it was this time last year. Over the last 18 seasons including the 20152016 season, only three seasons have peaked during march 20152016, 20112012 and 20052006. Health experts are warning australia is on track for a killer flu season, with numbers showing three times as many people have been diagnosed with. There was a gradual start to the season, with a short, delayed peak. Influenza a virus subtype h3n2 ah3n2 is a subtype of viruses that causes influenza flu. Now is the time for american to get their shots and brace for a really bad influenza season. The 2015 national seasonal influenza immunisation program will start on 20 april 2015, instead of the usual start date of 15 march. The coordinator of flutracking australia is dr craig dalton. May 01, 2015 these values used for timeonventilator accord well with reported estimates. All data and information are conditional and may change as more reports are received. In the 2015 2016 season, about 45 percent of all americans six months and older got vaccinated against flu. Everyone 6 months and older needs a flu vaccine each year. The data in this report reflect the 201920 influenza season which 1began the week ending october 5, 2019 week 40 2019.
Cdc receives a flu vaccine during the influenza outlook 2015 2016. In australia, influenza on average causes 1,500 to 3,000 deaths, 3 about 18,000 hospitalisations and 300,000 gp consultations 1 each year. What makes this flu season so bad national geographic. The 2017 influenza season was the worst since the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Information brief 2018 influenza season in australia. Information in this report is categorized by influenza transmission zones, which are geographical groups of countries, areas or territories with similar influenza transmission patterns. Only influenza a is known to have caused influenza pandemics. Reporting of adverse events following influenza vaccine. In 2017, a terrible flu season in australia presaged an american. The start of the 20192020 flu season was unusual, with influenza b circulating early. Australia552014, anorway4662014 and astockholm62014 are. The season occurs during the cold half of the year in each hemisphere. Flu activity is decreasing but remains elevated in the u.