FluWatch report: April 3 to April 9, 2016 (week 14)
Overall Summary
- Influenza activity peaked nationally in in the second week of March; however, lower but sustained activity is being reported throughout the country.
- All regions of Canada reported sporadic or localized influenza activity.
- Both influenza B and influenza A detections decreased in week 14. To date this season, a total of 34,105 positive influenza tests have been reported.
- Hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths among the pediatric population, while declining, remain above expected levels based on the past several influenza seasons.
- Despite higher pediatric hospitalizations reported, the pediatric population account for the smallest proportion of all deaths reported.
- 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
- 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 week 14, influenza activity was reported in 50 regions across Canada. A total of 30 regions reported sporadic activity levels, while the remaining 20 reported localized activity levels.
Laboratory Confirmed Influenza Detections
In week 14, the percentage of tests positive for influenza continued to decrease from the previous week [from 28% in week 13 to 23% in week 14] (Figure 2). Compared to the previous five seasons, the percent positive (23%) reported in week 14 was above the five year average for that week and exceeded the expected levels (range 11.1%-16.7%). With the late start to the 2015-16 influenza season, these elevated levels are not unexpected.
In week 14, there were 1,914 positive influenza tests reported. The number of positive influenza B tests accounted for an increasing proportion of all positive influenza tests reported. Both influenza B and influenza A detections decreased in week 14. This week, influenza B accounted for 41% of all positive tests. To date, 79% of influenza detections have been influenza A and among those subtyped, the vast majority have been influenza A(H1N1) [91% (10510/11511)].
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 |
Weekly (April 3 to April 9, 2016) | Cumulative (August 30, 2015 to April 9, 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 | 166 | 105 | 11 | 50 | 29 | 1912 | 910 | 346 | 656 | 1095 | 2930 |
AB | 72 | 42 | <5 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | 87 | 3863 | 3552 | 174 | 137 | 1415 | 5278 |
SK | 28 | 19 | <5 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | 48 | 2902 | 1467 | 46 | 737 | 652 | 3554 |
MB | 14 | 5 | <5 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | 22 | 855 | 175 | 37 | 643 | 125 | 980 |
ON | 237 | 75 | 10 | 152 | 202 | 7218 | 3116 | 353 | 3749 | 1945 | 9163 |
QC | 404 | 39 | 0 | 365 | 376 | 8328 | 969 | 5 | 7354 | 1843 | 10171 |
NB | 165 | 11 | 0 | 154 | 11 | 899 | 75 | 3 | 821 | 43 | 942 |
NS | 33 | 0 | 0 | 33 | <5 | 270 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | <5 | 269 | 7 | 277 |
PE | 6 | <5 | <5 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | 0 | 57 | 52 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 57 |
NL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 408 | 58 | <5 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | 14 | 422 |
YT | 6 | <5 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | <5 | 0 | 77 | 45 | <5 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | 19 | 96 |
NT | 1 | <5 | 0 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | <5 | 120 | 90 | 25 | 5 | 8 | 128 |
NU | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | <5 | Table Figure 3 - Footnote x | 15 | 14 | 30 |
Canada | 1135 | 302 | 28 | 805 | 779 | 26925 | 10510 | 1001 | 14762 | 7180 | 34105 |
Percentage Table Figure 3 - Footnote 2 | 59% | 27% | 2% | 71% | 41% | 79% | 39% | 4% | 55% | 21% | 100% |
To date this season, detailed information on age and type/subtype has been received for 28,818 cases. Children and teenagers (0-19 years of age) accounted for one third of all influenza cases (33%). Children (0-19), young adults (20-44) and middle-aged adults (45-64) accounted for approximately an equal proportion of influenza A(H1N1) cases (28%).
Age groups (years) | Weekly (April 3 to April 9, 2016) | Cumulative (August 30, 2015 to April 9, 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 | 125 | 15 | 0 | 110 | 124 | 4287 | 1674 | 63 | 2550 | 1044 | 5333 | 19% |
5-19 | 46 | 7 | <5 | Table 1 - Footnote x | 138 | 2302 | 997 | 95 | 1210 | 1832 | 4136 | 14% |
20-44 | 118 | 30 | <5 | Table 1 - Footnote x | 120 | 5566 | 2655 | 150 | 2761 | 1574 | 7140 | 25% |
45-64 | 171 | 37 | <5 | Table 1 - Footnote x | 75 | 5994 | 2639 | 178 | 3177 | 763 | 6757 | 23% |
65+ | 175 | 31 | 6 | 138 | 100 | 4477 | 1506 | 396 | 2575 | 974 | 5452 | 19% |
Total | 635 | 120 | 10 | 505 | 557 | 22626 | 9471 | 882 | 12273 | 6187 | 28818 | 100% |
PercentageTable 1 - Footnote 2 | 53% | 19% | 2% | 80% | 47% | 79% | 42% | 4% | 54% | 21% |
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 decreased from the previous week from 45.2 per 1,000 patient visits in week 13, to 26.8 per 1,000 patient visits in week 14. The highest ILI consultation rate was found in the 0-4 years age group (55.9 per 1,000) and the lowest was found in the ≥65 years age group (5.5 per 1,000) (Figure 4).
Pharmacy Surveillance
During week 14, the proportion of prescriptions for antivirals dereaesd to 50.4 antiviral prescriptions per 100,000 total prescriptions, which is lower than the five year historical average for week 14. The proportion of prescriptions for antivirals remains highest among children. In week 14, the proportion reported among children was 102.4 per 100,000 total prescriptions.
Influenza Outbreak Surveillance
In week 14, 17 new laboratory confirmed influenza outbreaks were reported: 14 in long-term care facilities (LTCF), two in hospitals and one in institutions or community settings. Of the outbreaks with known strains or subtypes, three outbreaks were due to influenza B, one outbreak was due to influenza A(H1N1), two outbreaks were due to influenza A(H3N2) and eight were due to influenza A(UnS). Additionally, three ILI outbreaks were reported schools.
To date this season, 374 outbreaks have been reported. At week 14 in the 2014-15 season, 1646 outbreaks were reported and in the 2013-14 season,198 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 |
Sentinel Pediatric Hospital Influenza Surveillance
Paediatric Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths
Hospitalizations reported by the the Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT) network continue to decrease (Figure 7). In week 14, 58 hospitalizations were reported. The largest proportion of hospitalizations were in children aged 2-4 years, accounting for 46.5% of the hospitalizations. For the first time this season, more influenza B cases were reported than influenza A cases (31 vs. 27 respectively).
To date this season, 1,138 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric (≤16 years of age) hospitalizations have been reported by the IMPACT network: 853 hospitalized cases (75%) were due to influenza A and 285 cases (25%) were due to influenza B. The greatest proportion of hospitalized cases were in children aged 0-2 years (40 %). To date,190 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions have been reported. Children aged 2 to 4 and 5 to 9 years accounted for 28% and 26% respectively of ICU admissions. A total of 113 ICU cases (59%) reported at least one underlying condition or comorbidity. Eight influenza-associated deaths have been reported.
Age Groups | Cumulative (30 Aug. 2015 to 9 April 2016) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Influenza A | Influenza B | Influenza A and B (#(%)) | ||||
A Total | A(H1) pdm09 | A(H3) | A (UnS) | B Total | ||
|
||||||
0-5m | 112 | 32 | 5 | 75 | 21 | 133 (12%) |
6-23m | 261 | 73 | 7 | 181 | 59 | 320 (28%) |
2-4y | 246 | 78 | <5 | Table 2 - Footnote x | 78 | 324 (28%) |
5-9y | 177 | 47 | <5 | Table 2 - Footnote x | 89 | 266 (23%) |
10-16y | 57 | 18 | <5 | Table 2 - Footnote x | 38 | 95 (8%) |
Total | 853 | 248 | 21 | 584 | 285 | 1138 (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 | 6 |
52 | 13 | 11 |
1 | 20 | 19 |
2 | 13 | 13 |
3 | 24 | 26 |
4 | 39 | 21 |
5 | 48 | 44 |
6 | 78 | 53 |
7 | 108 | 90 |
8 | 148 | 125 |
9 | 147 | 103 |
10 | 148 | 123 |
11 | 114 | 112 |
12 | 90 | 80 |
13 | 66 | 79 |
14 | 58 | 36 |
Adult Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths
In week 14, 36 hospitalizations were reported by the Canadian Immunization Research Network Serious Outcome Surveillance (CIRN-SOS) (Figure 7). The largest proportion of hospitalizations was in adults 65+ years of age (50%) and due to influenza A (75%).
To date this season, 956 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated adult (≥16 years of age) hospitalizations have been reported by CIRN-SOS (Table 3). The majority of hospitalized cases were due to influenza A (85%) and the largest reported proportion was among adults ≥65 years of age (49%). One hundred and thirty-seven intensive care unit (ICU) admissions have been reported. A total of 88 ICU cases reported at least one underlying condition or comorbidity. A total of 38 deaths have been reported this season with the majority of deaths reported in adults ≥65 years of age (63%).
Age groups (years) | Cumulative (1 Nov. 2015 to 9 April 2016) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Influenza A | B | Influenza A and B | ||||
A Total | A(H1) pdm09 | A(H3) | A(UnS) | Total | # (%) | |
|
||||||
16-20 | 5 | <5 | 0 | <5 | <5 | 6 (1%) |
20-44 | 127 | 38 | <5 | Table 3 - Footnote x | 28 | 155 (16%) |
45-64 | 286 | 84 | 3 | 199 | 30 | 316 (33%) |
65+ | 388 | 96 | 21 | 271 | 84 | 472 (49%) |
Unknown | 6 | 0 | <5 | <5 | <5 | 7 (1%) |
Total | 812 | 225 | 26 | 561 | 144 | 956 |
% | 85% | 28% | 3% | 69% | 15% | 100% |
Figure 8. Percentage of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths with influenza reported by age-group (≥16 year of age), Canada 2015-16
Note: The number of hospitalizations reported through CIRN-SOS and IMPACT represents a subset of all influenza-associated adult and paediatric hospitalizations in Canada. Delays in the reporting of data may cause data to change retrospectively.
x - Suppressed to prevent residual disclosure.
Figure 8 - Text Description
Age-group (years) | Hospitalizations (n=949) | ICU admissions (n=137) | Deaths (n=38) |
---|---|---|---|
|
|||
16-20 | 0.6% | Table Figure 8 - Footnote x% | Table Figure 8 - Footnote x% |
20-44 | 16.3% | Table Figure 8 - Footnote x% | Table Figure 8 - Footnote x% |
45-64 | 33.3% | 43.1% | 31.6% |
65+ | 49.7% | 34.3% | 63.2% |
Provincial/Territorial Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths
Since the start of the 2015-16 season, 4,371 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations have been reported. A total of 3,637 hospitalizations (83%) were due to influenza A and 734 (17%) were due to influenza B. Of the 473 ICU admissions reported, 245 (58%) were due to influenza A(H1N1) A total of 193 deaths have been reported; all but 22 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 were reported in adults 45-64 years of age and the highest proportion of fatal cases was reported in adults ≥65 years of age. Pediatric (0-19 years) and young to middle-aged adults (20-44 years) accounted for 42% of all hospitalizations and 15% of all deaths reported to date this season.
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=4371) | ICU admissions (n=473) | Deaths (n=193) |
---|---|---|---|
0-4 | 19.3% | 8.9% | 2.6% |
5-19 | 9.2% | 5.9% | 3.1% |
20-44 | 13.5% | 18.2% | 9.3% |
45-64 | 27.1% | 45.2% | 37.3% |
65+ | 30.9% | 21.8% | 47.7% |
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 1580 influenza viruses [179 A(H3N2), 889 A(H1N1) and 512 influenza B].
Influenza A (H3N2): When tested by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays, 42 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 137 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 889 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 125 influenza B viruses characterized were antigenically similar to the vaccine strain B/Phuket/3073/2013. A total of 387 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 recommended components for the 2015-2016 northern hemisphere trivalent influenza vaccine include: an A/California/7/2009(H1N1)pdm09-like virus, an A/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 (Victoria lineage) is recommended.
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 1,078 influenza viruses for resistance to oseltamivir, 1,079 for resistance to zanamivir and 1,027 influenza viruses for resistance to amantadine. All but eight tested viruses were sensitive to oseltamivir. The eight H1N1 viruses resistant to oseltamivir had a H275Y mutation. All viruses tested for resistance were sensitive to zanamivir. All but one influenza A viruses were resistant to amantadine (Table 4).
Virus type and subtype | Oseltamivir | Zanamivir | Amantadine | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# tested | # resistant (%) | # tested | # resistant (%) | # tested | # resistant (%) | |
|
||||||
A (H3N2) | 142 | 0 (0%) | 142 | 0 (0%) | 173 | 172 (99.4%) |
A (H1N1) | 656 | 8 (1.2%) | 657 | 0 (0%) | 854 | 854 (100%) |
B | 280 | 0 (0%) | 280 | 0 (0%) | NATable 4 - Footnote * | NATable 4 - Footnote * |
Total | 1078 | 8 (0.7%) | 1079 | 0 (0%) | 1027 | 1026 |
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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