Report No. 17
Week ending 4 September 2009
A print friendly version of this report is available as a PDF (92 KB)Disclaimer
This report aims to increase awareness of seasonal influenza in Australia by providing an analysis of the various surveillance data sources throughout Australia. While every care has been taken in preparing this report, the Commonwealth does not accept liability for any injury or loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance upon, the content of the report. Please note, this report is based on data available as at 12 June 2009. Delays in the reporting of data may cause data to change retrospectively. For further details about information contained in this report please contact the Influenza team through flu@health.gov.au
Key Indicators
The counting of every case of pandemic influenza is no longer feasible in the PROTECT phase. Influenza activity and severity in community is instead monitored by the surveillance systems listed below.Is the situation changing? |
Indicated by: laboratory confirmed cases reported to NetEpi/NNDSS; GP Sentinel ILI Surveillance; and ED presentations of ILI at sentinel hospitals (NSW and WA). Laboratory data are used to determine the proportion of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 circulating in the community. |
|---|---|
How severe is the disease, and is severity changing? |
Indicated by: number of hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths from sentinel hospital surveillance; emergence of more severe clinical picture in hospitalised cases and ICU admissions. |
Is the virus changing? |
Indicated by: emergence of drug resistance or gene drift/shift from laboratory surveillance. |
What is ahead? |
Forward projections of cases, morbidity and mortality. |
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Key Points
Is the situation changing?
- Overall, current national influenza activity appears to be decreasing. Most jurisdictions have reported that pandemic (H1N1) 2009 activity has peaked and is starting to decrease.
- ILI presentations to General Practitioners have remained steady or decreased in all states and territories. At a national level, rates are below levels seen at the same time in 2007 and 2008.
- ILI presentations to emergency departments decreased across all reporting systems this reporting period.
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How severe is the disease?
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Is the virus changing?
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What is ahead?
With a 20% clinical attack rate and no intervention; it has been estimated that by the end of winter 1 in 5 Australian (4.3 million) could become infected with the pandemic virus, leading to 80,000 hospitalisations and 6,000 deaths. Currently the number of hospitalisations and deaths are tracking below these estimations.Top of page
Current influenza activity in Australia – Is the situation changing?
Notifications of confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal influenza
The number of new notifications of laboratory confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 this reporting period was 971. As of 4 September 2009 there were 35,143 confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Australia, including 161 deaths. The number of new notifications of laboratory confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 have decreased nationally over the past few weeks. The number of cases reported represents only a small proportion of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 circulating in the community.The national epidemic curve shows the jurisdictional distribution of confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 over time in Australia (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Australia, to 4 September 2009 by jurisdiction
Source: NetEPI database
As Figure 2 shows, influenza activity in 2009 started earlier than in 2008 and there was a rapid increase in the number of confirmed influenza cases (both seasonal and pandemic (H1N1) 2009) from week 21 (starting 16 May 2009). The high number of confirmed notifications of seasonal influenza seen during May and June are most likely due to the increase in testing for pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Overall, numbers of laboratory confirmed notifications of influenza have been decreasing in the past few weeks.
Laboratory confirmed notifications of influenza are currently at 10.2 times the 5 year rolling mean.
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Figure 2. Influenza activity in Australia, by reporting week, years 2007, 2008 and 2009*
* Data on pandemic (H1N1) 2001 cases is extracted from NetEPI; data on seasonal influenza is extracted from the NNDSS.
Sources: NNDSS and NetEPI databases
On 17 June 2009 Australia commenced the transition to a new response phase called PROTECT, in which laboratory testing is directed towards people with moderate or severe illness; those more vulnerable to severe illness; and those in institutional settings. This means that the number of confirmed cases does not reflect how many people in the community have acquired pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection.
As the counting of every case is no longer feasible in the PROTECT phase, influenza activity, including Influenza Like Illness (ILI) activity in the community, is instead monitored by surveillance systems including:
Laboratory data are used to determine the proportion of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 circulating in the community.
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Influenza Like Illness activity in Australia
Sentinel General Practice
ILI presentations to General Practitioners continue to decrease and are lower than 2007 and 2008 rates nationally. In all jurisdictions ILI data have decreased or plateaued in this period.Combined data available from the Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN), the Northern Territory GP surveillance system and VIDRL, up until 30 August 2009, show that nationally, influenza like Illness (ILI) consultation rates have decreased this reporting period and are below levels seen in 2007 and 2008 (Figure 3). In the last week, the presentation rate to sentinel GPs in Australia was approximately 14 cases per 1,000 patients seen.
Figure 3. Rate of ILI reported from GP ILI surveillance systems from 2007 to 30 August 2009 by week*
* Delays in the reporting of data may cause data to change retrospectively. As data from the NT and the VIDRL surveillance systems are combined with ASPREN data, rates may not be directly comparable across 2007, 2008 and 2009.
SOURCE: ASPREN, NT, VIDRL
Further analysis of the ILI data showed levels in Victoria (both from ASPREN and VIDRL), NSW and QLD dropped in this period. Rates of ILI have increased in SA, Tas, WA, NT and ACT (Figure 4).
Care should be taken when interpreting Figure 5 graphs due to lags in reporting in some instances and small numbers being reported from jurisdictions. The last data point may be modified in future reports.
Figure 4. Rate of ILI reported from ASPREN, VIDRL and NT by State from January 2009 to 30 August 2009 by week
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SOURCE: NT
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SOURCE: ASPREN (VIC) & VIDRL
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Emergency departments
Trends in ILI presentations to EDs decreased across all reporting systems this reporting period.The number of ILI presentations reported in Western Australian EDs has remained stable in the week ending 30 August 2009 with levels higher to those seen at the same time in 2007 and 2008 (Figure 5). The proportion of ILI presentations admitted to hospital increased from 4.3% to 5.7%.
Figure 5. Number of Emergency Department presentations due to ILI in Western Australia from 1 January 2007 to 30 August 2009 by week
In early July 2007 (week 26), several deaths associated with influenza infection were reported in children from Western Australia. The public response to these deaths could account for the sudden increase in ILI presentations to Perth EDs in 2007.
SOURCE: WA ‘Virus Watch’ Report
In the week ending 28 August 2009, ILI presentations to New South Wales EDs decreased to moderate levels (rate 4.7 per 1,000 presentations) (Figure 6). Presentations were mainly for mild illnesses and 10% of presentations with ILI were admitted, which is similar to levels reported previously.
Figure 6. Rate of ILI diagnosed in people presenting to selected Emergency Departments, NSW 1 January 2005 to 28 August 2009 by month*
* Emergency department data are preliminary and may be updated in later weeks.
SOURCE: NSW HEALTH ‘NSW Influenza Surveillance Report’
ILI presentations to South Australian EDs more than halved to 61 presentations this reporting period compared with 127 presentations in the previous week. The number of admissions remained stable at 7. 1
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Absenteeism
Absenteeism rates have decreased in the last week and are below levels seen in 2007 (Figure 7).Figure 7. Rates of absenteeism of greater than 3 days absent, National employer, 1 January 2007 to 26 Augusty 2009, by week
SOURCE: Absenteeism data
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Laboratory surveillance
How much ILI and influenza is due to pandemic (H1N1) 2009?
As shown in Table 1 below, of those tests that were positive for Influenza A, the proportion of tests that were pandemic (H1N1) 2009 remained stable in most jurisdictions with a mean of 90%.The proportion of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 to seasonal influenza varies across jurisdictions. This proportion is used as an indicator to help determine if a person has influenza, then how likely it is to be pandemic (H1N1) 2009. The proportion of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 to seasonal influenza as reported by the jurisdictions is shown in Table 1. The proportion of confirmed influenza in Australia which was pandemic (H1N1) 2009 across all reporting systems increased to 90%.
Over the last two weeks, for the days on which surveillance testing was conducted, ASPREN GPs reported 59 people presenting with ILI. Of these, 31% (18/59) were tested for influenza. Twenty-eight percent (5/18) of these cases were influenza positive; 100% (5/5) were pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
Table 1. Laboratory tests that tested positive for influenza A and pandemic (H1N1) 2009
| ASPREN – national | NSW report^ | VIDRL Sentinel GP # | WA NIC | NT (reported by WA NIC) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Latest report |
|||||
| Number of specimens tested | 18 |
837 (at4/9) |
8 (at 6/4) |
613 (at 4/9) |
n/a |
| % tested which were Influenza A | 28% (5) |
5% (43) |
0% |
18% (111) |
2 (at 4/9) |
| % tested which were pandemic (H1N1) 2009 | 100% (5) |
74% (32) |
0% |
96% (107) |
100% (2) |
Previous report |
|||||
| Number of specimens tested | 25 |
1424 (at 21/8) |
21 (at 30/8) |
688 (at 28/8) |
n/a (at 28/8) |
| % tested which were Influenza A | 16% (4) |
10% (141) |
14% (3) |
19% (131) |
3 |
| % tested which were pandemic (H1N1) 2009 | 100% (4) |
82% (116) |
100% (3) |
96% (126) |
67% (2) |
*ASPREN tests are collected every Tuesday. Results are reported for a rolling fortnight as data changes retrospectively.
^NSW Influenza Report available from: http://www.emergency.health.nsw.gov.au/swineflu/index.asp
#VIDRL Influenza Report available from: http://www.vidrl.org.au/surveillance/flu%20reports/flurpt09/flu09.html
The proportion of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 compared with seasonal influenza varies across different countries in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Argentina reported that 92.3% of the respiratory viruses circulating in those aged over 5 years is due to pandemic (H1N1) 2009,2 while Canada reported that pandemic (H1N1) 2009 represents 96.2% of all influenzas,3 and the US is reporting that it represents 99% of the total circulating influenza viruses.4
In New Zealand, pandemic (H1N1) 2009 represents 40% of influenza viruses reported from sentinel surveillance and 71% of influenza viruses reported in non-sentinel surveillance.5
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How severe is the disease, and is severity changing?
Overview of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 severity
Table 2 provides a summary of measures that indicate the severity of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 since the beginning of the outbreak and up to 4 September 2009. Of particular note is the increasing median age as the severity of the disease progresses: 21 years for all confirmed cases; 31 years for hospitalised cases; 43 years for ICU cases; and 53 years for cases who have died.Table 2. Summary severity indicators# of pandemic (H1N1) in Australia
| Confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases | Hospitalised cases | ICU cases | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | 35,143 |
4,548 (13%) |
75 (daily average) |
161 |
| % Females | 51% (18,243/35,821) |
50% (1,519/3,025) |
51% (182/356) |
44% (56/127) |
| Median age (years) | 21 |
31 |
43 |
53 |
| Indigenous people | 19% (3,173/17,085) |
15% (669/4,548) |
17% (52/331) |
12% (20/161) |
| % Pregnant | n/a |
4.4% (134/3,025) |
13% (18/134) |
2.5% (4/161) |
#Data are extracted from a number of sources depending on the availability of information. Where complete data are not available, information on the figures used in the analysis have been provided in parentheses.
*Information on underlying medical conditions is currently available for only one jurisdiction
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Table 3. Summary of hospitalisations and deaths for pandemic (H1N1) in Australia, by States and Territories
| ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA | AUS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total pandemic (H1N1) 2009 hospitalisations | 56 |
1209 |
281 |
1146 |
465 |
104 |
504 |
783 |
4548 |
| Percentage of national pandemic (H1N1) 2009 hospitalisations | 1.2% |
26.6% |
6.2% |
25.2% |
10.2% |
2.3% |
11.1% |
17.2% |
100% |
| Crude rate per 100,000 | 16.3 |
17.4 |
127.8 |
26.8 |
29.0 |
20.9 |
9.5 |
3.6 |
21.3 |
| Total pandemic (H1N1) 2009 deaths | 2 |
46 |
6 |
37 |
17 |
6 |
24 |
23 |
161 |
| Percentage of national pandemic (H1N1) 2009 deaths | 1.2% |
28.6% |
3.7% |
23.0% |
10.6% |
3.7% |
14.9% |
14.3% |
100% |
| Crude rate per 100,000 | 0.6 |
0.7 |
2.7 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
1.2 |
0.5 |
1.1 |
0.8 |
| Percentage of Australian population | 1.6% |
32.6% |
1.0% |
20.0% |
7.5% |
2.3% |
24.8% |
10.1% |
100% |
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Pandemic morbidity (hospitalisations)
Hospitalisations of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 confirmed cases
As of 4 September 2009, jurisdictions have reported that 4,548 confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 have been hospitalised (this figure includes people with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 who are hospitalised for associated conditions). The number of cases per day requiring hospitalisation has decreased since late August. There have been 150 additional new cases hospitalised* over the last week (a reduction from 316 cases reported in the previous week) (Figure 8).* The numbers hospitalised should be treated with caution as there may be case ascertainment bias in the reporting of confirmed cases being hospitalised. All paediatric cases admitted to hospital are being tested for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 while not all hospitalised adults might be tested. There may be a significant underestimation of the numbers of adults hospitalised from pandemic (H1N1) 2009 due to limited testing.
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Indigenous Australians are approximately 8 times more likely than non-Indigenous Australians to be hospitalised for pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Australian jurisdictions have reported that 669 (14.7%) of all 4,548 cases hospitalised since the beginning of the outbreak were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
For comparative purposes, for the period 2000-01 to 2006-07, an average of 1,925 people with influenza are admitted to hospital each year. For all influenzasb and pneumoniasc for the same period, an average of 73,271 people were admitted to hospital.6
b ICD10-AM codes J10-J11
c ICD10-AM codes J12-J18
Figure 8. Hospitalisations of pandemic (H1N1) 2009, 15 June 2009 to 4 September 2009, Australia
*The jurisdictions report directly to the National Incident Room, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, on hospitalisations and numbers admitted to ICUs.
Source: Jurisdictions
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Age and sex distribution of hospitalised confirmed cases
Limited further information is available for 3,039 (67%) of the 4,548 confirmed cases hospitalised since the beginning of the outbreak. Of these cases, the overall hospitalisation rate is 14.2 per 100,000 population (a slight increase from the previous reporting period which was 12.9), with the highest rates in children aged less than 5 years of age (45.7 per for males and 35.4 for females per 100,000 population). The median age of hospitalised cases is 31 years (range 0-98 years). Figure 9 illustrates that the age distribution of hospitalised cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is different to previous influenza seasons. In comparison with the 2004-2007 influenza seasons, young children aged less than 5 years of age continue to be hospitalised at a higher rate than other age groups (males in particular) but for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 there is a peak in the 50 to 60 years age group and a marked decrease in those aged more than 75 years.Figure 9. Age specific rates of hospitalised confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 to 4 September 2009, compared with average annual age specific rates of hospitalisations from seasonal influenza 2004-05 to 2006-07*, Australia
*The rates for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 are for a six week period 15 June to 7 August 2009 whereas the rates for seasonal influenza are averaged annual rates (i.e. for a full influenza season).
Source: NETEPI database
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Information on length of stay is available for 53% (1,601) of the 3,039 hospitalised cases for which there is further information. The median length of stay in hospital is 3 days (range 1-42 days). Approximately 9.7% of all hospitalised patients stayed in hospital for more that 7 days (Figure 10). A breakdown by age group shows that children aged less than 5 years, although more likely to be hospitalised, tend to be hospitalised for shorter periods than older children and adults. Only 6% of children aged less than 5 years remain in hospital for longer than 7 days, this compares with 13% for those in the age group 30 years and over.
Figure 10. Hospitalised confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009, by length of hospital stay and age group, to 4 September 2009, Australia
Source: NETEPI database
Pregnancy as a risk factor for pandemic (H1N1) 2009
One hundred and thirty four (4.4%) of the 3039 hospitalised confirmed cases for whom further information was known were pregnant women. Information on gestation is available for 74 of the 134 cases. Approximately 8% (6) were in their 1st trimester (weeks 1-12); 26% (19) were in their 2nd trimester (weeks 13-26); and 66% (49) were in their 3rd trimester (weeks 27-41) (Figure 11). Eighteen pregnant women were admitted to ICU: 1 was in her first trimester, 4 were in their 2nd trimester and 9 were in the 3rd trimester. No information on gestation was available for 4 women. Pregnant women stayed an average of 6 days in hospital (range 1-42 days). Four pregnant women are known to have died.Figure 11. Hospitalised confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in pregnant women by weeks of gestation, to 14 August 2009, Australia
Source: NETEPI database
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Paediatric hospital admissions
Since reporting began in 2009, 111 children have been reported as hospitalised with complications from influenza by the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU). Admission data has been provided for 78 cases (Figure 12).Of the 78 cases, for which data are available, the average age of children admitted to hospital is four years and five months, with an age range from one month to 16 years. Complications were mostly for pneumonia and encephalitis. Twenty-nine of the 74 (39%) cases for which data is available had underlying conditions.
Figure 12. Number of paediatric hospital admissions APSU, 11 March 2009 to 19 August 2009, by week of admission
SOURCE: APSU
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Confirmed cases requiring intensive care
In Week 36 (week ending 4 September 2009), an average of 75 hospitalised cases required intensive care on any given dayd a decrease from the previous reporting period (95). The median age of cases in ICU is 43 years (range 0-84 years). Seventeen percent of ICU cases have been reported as Indigenous.Information on the percentage of hospitalised cases admitted to an ICU since the beginning of the pandemic is available for two States. In New South Wales the percentage of hospitalised cases admitted to an ICU is 17% and for Queensland the percentage is 15%.
d This does not represent the number of new cases requiring admittance to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but is a repeated measure of the prevalence of confirmed cases in an ICU on a particular day.
Snapshot on Queenslande hospitalised confirmed cases
There have been 1,187 hospitalisations associated with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Queensland between 25 May 2009 and 4 September 2009, an age standardised (non-annualised) rate of 27.7 per 100,000 population. Fifty four percent (n=642) of hospitalisations were in females, an age standardised rate of 30.0 per 100,000 population. Forty six percent (n=545) of hospitalisations were in males, an age standardised rate of 25.5 per 100,000 population.Of these 1,187 hospitalised cases, co-morbidities were reported in 63% (n=744) of cases. Co-morbidities included chronic respiratory 53% (n=393); diabetes 15% (n=115); pregnancy 10% (n=78); chronic cardiac 11% (n=85); immuno-compromised 11% (n=81); morbid obesity 8% (n=58); and renal 5% (n=35). Information on the length of time between onset of symptoms and admittance to hospital were available for 855 confirmed cases. Fifty three percent (454/855) of these cases were admitted within 48 hours of onset of symptoms.
Figure 13 illustrates that the 0-4 years age group is more likely to be hospitalised but the length of stay is more likely to be less than 3 days than for other age groups. Twenty seven percent (n=262) of cases were hospitalised for less than 3 days; 48% (n=470) for 3-7 days; 12% (n=114) for 8-13 days; and 13% (n=124) for 14 or more days. These figures include cases that are still hospitalised.
Of these hospitalised cases, 178 were admitted to an ICU or special care with 54% being female. The median length of stay in ICU or special care was 9 days (range 1-52 days). The age of cases admitted to ICU ranged from 0-84 years with the highest proportion of cases in the 50-54 year age group (14%, n=25), followed by the 55-59 year age group and the 45-49 year age group, which each accounted for 13% (n=24) and 12% (n=21) of the cases respectively. Thirty seven percent (n=66) of cases in ICU had no reported co-morbidities.
Figure 13. Hospitalised confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009, by length of hospital stay and age group, to 4 September 2009, Queensland
e. Queensland has been able to provide greater detail on hospitalised cases than other States and Territories, enabling more in-depth analysis of hospitalised cases.
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Pandemic Mortality
Deaths associated with pandemic (H1N1) 2009
There were 161 deaths associated with the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in Australia between 19 June 2009 and 4 September 2009. f Of these 161 deaths, 46 occurred in New South Wales, 37 in Queensland, 24 in Victoria, 23 in Western Australia, 17 in South Australia, 6 in Tasmania and the Northern Territory and 2 in the Australian Capital Territory. Of the 161 deaths, 20 (12.4%) were Indigenous. gf. For the most recent figures on hospitalisations and deaths please access the latest Situation Report at http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/Content/updates
g. It is estimated that 2.4% of the total Australian population are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Reports from the jurisdictions in Australia indicate that most of the cases had underlying medical conditions including cancer, diabetes mellitus and morbid obesity. The Pan-American Health Organization has reported that between 53% and 59% of confirmed cases who have died in Argentina, Chile and Mexico have had underlying conditions. 7
Further information was available on 127 of the 161 deaths in Australia. Males were overrepresented among the deaths (56%, n=71). The median age of confirmed cases that died was 53 years (range 2-86 years). This compares with deaths from seasonal influenza where the median age, for the period 2001-2006, was 83 years. The highest proportion of deaths (17%, n=22) have occurred in the 55-59 year age group. Most deaths (80%) have occurred in those aged between 35 to 79 years (Figure 14). Noting the apparent biases in these data, the pattern of deaths across age groups is very different to the age distribution of hospitalisations and confirmed cases.
Figure 14. Numbers of deaths among confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009, by age group and sex, compared with total laboratory confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 notifications by age group, to 4 September 2009, Australia
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Deaths associated with influenza and pneumonia
There are difficulties estimating the number of deaths due to influenza in Australia. Deaths coded as being due to laboratory confirmed influenza are known to underestimate the true number. Influenza may not be listed on the death certificate if it wasn’t recognised as the underlying cause. Coding of pneumonia and influenza provides an additional measure, although this will overestimate the number of deaths as it will include other causes of pneumonia.The median number of annual deaths in Australia for the years 2001 to 2006 from influenza and pneumonia is 3,089 and for laboratory diagnosed influenza is 40. In 2007 (the latest year for which data has been released) there were 2,623 deaths with influenza and pneumonia as the underlying cause of death. In 2007, influenza and pneumonia was the 13th leading cause of death in Australia (Source: ABS, Causes of Death 2007.). Mortality figures are likely to be an underestimate due to inherent difficulties in assigning causes of death and therefore appropriate ICD codes. ABS mortality data are released two years in arrears.
Although mortality data from all causes are generally not available for the current year, some information on influenza and pneumonia deaths are reported by individual jurisdictions from their Births, Deaths and Marriages Registers. In Western Australia, pneumonia and influenza deaths accounted for approximately 16% of all deaths in the second week of August, which is below levels seen at the same time in 2008 (Figure 15).
Figure 15: Percentage of all deaths classified as influenza and pneumonia, WA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1 January 2008 to 16 August 2009
SOURCE: WA ‘Virus Watch’ Report
In NSW, death certificate data as of 21 August 2009 show that there were 38 influenza or pneumonia deaths per 1,000 deaths in NSW, which was below the expected seasonal threshold for this time of year of 154 per 1,000 (Figure 16).
Figure 16: Rates of deaths classified as influenza and pneumonia, NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1 January 2004 to 21 August 2009
SOURCE: NSW Health ‘Weekly Influenza Report’
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3. Is the virus changing?
Laboratory Confirmed Influenza
It is not possible to determine accurately the number of notifications due to seasonal influenza. Increasingly, not all influenza viruses are subtyped and the large proportion of influenza A (13,639 notifications) reported to NNDSS could be either pandemic (H1N1) 2009 or seasonal influenza. Laboratory reports in recent weeks estimate that 90% of all influenza positive tests are due to pandemic (H1N1) 2009.From 1 January to 4 September 2009, type A is the predominant seasonal influenza type reported by all jurisdictions. Of the type A notifications for which there is subtyping information in NNDSS, the ratio of seasonal H1N1 to H3N2 is 1:2.
Antigenic characteristics
WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference & Research on Influenza (WHO CC)
In 2009 up to 6 September 2009, 852 Australian influenza isolates have been subtyped by the WHO CC in Melbourne. Of these, 398 influenza isolates have been antigenically characterised.In general, seasonal influenza A strains circulating this influenza season are the same as strains in the vaccine, with the A(H3N2) virus drifting. Influenza B strains match more closely with those in the 2009-10 Northern Hemisphere vaccine and may be drifting.
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Antiviral Resistance
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
There have been 19 cases of oseltamivir resistance to the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus reported worldwide (Table 4). To date, the WHO has received formal notification of 12 cases of oseltamivir resistant pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses. The isolates have a mutation in the neuraminidase (referred to as H275Y) that confers resistance to oseltamivir. WHO have reported that there are no epidemiological links among these cases as well as no evidence of onward transmission. The isolates remain sensitive to zanamivir.8In Australia, all of the 219 pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viral isolates tested have been sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir, and none of the 108 pandemic (H1N1) 2009 clinical specimens tested positive for the H275Y mutation which confers resistance to oseltamivir.
The US CDC has reported 9 independent cases of oseltamivir resistance strains of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the week ending 29 August 2009. All cases except one had exposure to oseltamivir through either treatment or prophylaxis. The one case is currently under investigation to determine exposure to oseltamivir. All of the 560 pandemic (H1N1) viral isolates tested continued to be sensitive to zanamivir. 9
In New Zealand, all of the 92 pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses tested up to 30 August 2009 continued to be sensitive to oseltamivir, including one from a fatal case of a 21 year-old male. None of the 12 pandemic (H1N1) 2009 clinical specimens tested positive for the H275Y mutation which confers resistance to oseltamavir. 10
Table 4. Summary of isolates of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 resistant to oseltamivir
Country |
Number of resistant cases | Date cases were identified | Information source | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 1 |
29/06/2009 |
WHO |
Media reported on 29 June that the case had only mild symptoms and recovered. |
| Hong Kong | 2 |
03/07/2009 |
WHO |
Media reported on 15 August that one case involved a 16 year old female who had not been treated with antivirals but was infected with a resistant strain. The other case involved a 40 year old female. |
| Japan | 4 |
03/07/2009 |
WHO |
Media reported on 3 August that one case was a 30yr old male that had taken Tamiflu as post-exposure prophylaxis; one case did not have severe disease and recovered. |
| Canada | 1 |
22/07/2009 |
WHO |
Media reported on 22 July that the case involved a 60 year old male and the drug was taken as a post exposure prophylaxis. |
| China | 1 |
12/08/2009 |
WHO |
Media reported on 12 August that Chinese officials had not released information about their case. |
| Singapore | 1 |
14/08/2009 |
WHO |
Media reported on 15 August that the case was infected by a Tamiflu-susceptible strain of the virus and was treated with Tamiflu, and that the resistant strain emerged during treatment. |
| US | 9 |
14/08/2009 |
US CDC |
The US CDC reported on the week ending 29 August, that all cases except one were exposed to Oseltamivir through either treatment or prophylaxis; the one case is being investigated. |
| Total | 19 |
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Seasonal Influenza
The last WHO report on resistance of seasonal strains to oseltamivir was released on 4 June 2009, during the Northern Hemisphere influenza season 2008-2009. This report stated that 96% of seasonal influenza A (H1N1) isolates tested from 36 countries worldwide were resistant to oseltamivir. 11In Australia up to 4 September 2009, 37 seasonal A(H1N1) viruses have been tested for oseltamivir resistance, 36 (97.3%) of the viruses tested were resistant. All of the 40 A(H3N2) and 6 influenza B viruses were sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir.
In New Zealand, 28 seasonal A(H1N1) viruses have been tested up to 30 August 2009 for the H275Y mutation, which is known to confer resistance to oseltamivir. All 28 viruses tested had the mutation. 10
The US CDC reported in the week ending 29 August that 99.6% of the seasonal A(H1N1) isolates tested were resistant to oseltamivir and 100% of the Influenza A(H3N2) isolates tested were resistant to adamantanes.9
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Data considerations
The information in this report is reliant on the surveillance sources available to the Department of Health and Ageing. As access to sources increase and improve, this report will be refined and additional information will be included.This report aims to increase awareness of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal influenza in Australia by providing an analysis of the various surveillance data sources throughout Australia. While every care has been taken in preparing this report, the Commonwealth does not accept liability for any injury or loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance upon, the content of the report. Please note, the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal influenza elements of this report are based on data available as at 4 September 2009. Delays in the reporting of data may cause data to change retrospectively. For further details about information contained in this report please contact the Influenza Team through flu@health.gov.au
NetEpi
All jurisdictions except QLD are reporting pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases using NetEpi, a web-based outbreak case reporting system. Data from jurisdictional systems are being imported into NetEpi by VIC, NSW, WA, TAS and SA, and the remainder are entering directly into NetEpi. QLD ceased reporting into NetEpi on 6 July 2009.Analyses of Australian cases are based on clinical onset date, if this information is available. Where an onset date is not available, notification date has been used. Victorian cases use a calculated onset date which is the earliest available date calculated from specimen date, onset date, notification date or detection date. This assumption was made for all calculations and data on which the figures are based.
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State and Territory reporting
The jurisdictions report directly to the National Incident Room, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, on hospitalisations, numbers admitted to ICUs and deaths.National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)
NNDSS comprises of notifications from jurisdictions of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases. Laboratory confirmed influenza is notifiable in all jurisdictions in Australia. Confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases are being received from all jurisdictions through NNDSS except for Victoria and New South Wales. NSW is also unable to send seasonal influenza notifications data.Laboratory Surveillance data
Laboratory testing data are extracted from the ‘NSW Influenza Report,’ ‘The 2009 Victorian Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Audit Report’ (VIDRL) and the ‘South Australian Seasonal Influenza Report’. These reports are provided weekly.WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference & Research on Influenza (WHO CC)
Data are provided weekly to the Surveillance Branch from the WHO CC.Sentinel General Practice Surveillance
The Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN) has Sentinel GPs who report influenza-like-illness (ILI) presentation rates in NSW, SA, ACT, VIC, QLD, TAS and WA. As jurisdictions joined ASPREN at different times and the number of GPs reporting has changed over time, the representativeness of ASPREN data in 2009 may be different from that of previous years. ASPREN data are sent to the Surveillance Branch on a weekly basis. Northern Territory GP surveillance data are sent to the Surveillance Branch on a weekly basis. VIDRL influenza surveillance data are sent to the Surveillance Branch on a weekly basis.A new testing protocol introduced through ASPREN requires GPs to test all patients presenting with an ILI on one day of the week. These data should provide a cross section of age, sex and severity of patients who seek GP assistance for ILI. This system is in the early stages of implementation and will be further developed over coming weeks.
Sentinel Emergency Department (ED) data
WA - ED surveillance data are extracted from the ‘Virus Watch’ Report. This report is provided weekly. The Western Australia Influenza Surveillance Program collects data from 8 Perth Emergency Departments (EDs).NSW - ED surveillance data are extracted from the ‘NSW Influenza Surveillance Report’. This report is provided weekly. The New South Wales Influenza Surveillance Program collects data from 49 EDs across New South Wales.
SA – ED surveillance data are extracted from the ‘South Australian Seasonal Influenza Report’. This report is provided weekly. The South Australian Influenza Surveillance Program collects data from 4 EDs in South Australia.
Absenteeism
A national organisation provides data on the number of employees who have been on sick leave for a continuous period of more than three days. These data are not influenza or ILI specific and absenteeism may be a result of other illnesses.Mortality data
Mortality data are extracted from the NSW Health ‘Weekly Influenza Epidemiology Report’ and the WA ‘Virus Watch’ Report.Paediatric hospital admissions data
Reports of ICU admissions are provided to the Surveillance Branch on a weekly basis by the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit. APSU conducts surveillance of severe complications of influenza in children aged 15 years and under. Surveillance began on 1 June 2009.Top of page
References
1. South Australian Seasonal Influenza Report No.15. Available from: http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/notifiable-diseases-summary/flu-resp-intro.htm2. Argentina Ministry of Health, Pandemic Situational Report. Available from: http://www.msal.gov.ar/htm/site/default.asp. Accessed 2 September 2009.
3. Canada Public Health Agency, Flu Watch: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/08-09/. Accessed 2 September 2009.
4. CDC Influenza reports http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/pubs/. Accessed 2 September 2009.
5. New Zealand Public Health Surveillance, Influenza Weekly Updates. Available at: http://www.surv.esr.cri.nz/virology/influenza_weekly_update.php. Accessed 2 September 2009.
6. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) National Hospital Morbidity Database. Available at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/hospitals/datacubes/index.cfm
7. PAHO Regional Update. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Epidemiological Week 29 (July 31 2009). Available from: http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1657&Itemid=1167. Accessed 5 August 2009.
8. WHO Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 update 64. Available from: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/updates/en/index.html. Accessed 8 September 2009.
9. CDC Influenza reports week 34. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/pubs/. Accessed 9 September 2009.
10. New Zealand Public Health Surveillance, Influenza Weekly Updates 2009/35. Available at: http://www.surv.esr.cri.nz/virology/influenza_weekly_update.php. Accessed 9 September 2009.
11. WHO Influenza A virus resistance to oseltamivir and other antiviral medicines, 4 June 2009. Available from: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/en/. Accessed 12 August 2009.
Related Links
Communicable Diseases Surveillance