BC Influenza Surveillance Bulletin: Sporadic Influenza Activity throughout Summer in BC

BC Influenza Surveillance Bulletin: Weeks 18-36 (May 3 – Sept 12, 2015)

Back-to-School Update: Sporadic Influenza Activity throughout Summer in BC

In weeks 18-36 (May 3 to September 12, 2015), community-based surveillance indicators for influenza remained at inter-seasonal levels throughout the province.

However, sporadic cases of influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B continued to be detected, driven in part by cases among out-of-province residents associated with cruise ship travel.

Also, in week 32, VCHA reported a lab-confirmed outbreak of influenza A(H3N2) in a long-term care facility (LTCF). Summer reporting of LTCF influenza outbreaks is atypical. Since 2009 this has occurred only during the A(H3N2)-dominant 2014-15 season during which an outbreak was reported in week 33, followed by additional LTCF outbreak reports in weeks 39-43. Monitoring for possible early season activity is thus warranted for the 2015-16 season.

At the BC provincial laboratory, overall influenza positivity was 8%, fluctuating between 0% and 18% during this period. Entero/rhinoviruses were the most commonly detected respiratory viruses; however, unlike last year, no EV-D68 has been detected thus far in BC despite enhanced surveillance by the provincial laboratory since August 1, 2015.

You can download the BC Influenza Surveillance Bulletins from the BCCDC website.

Please remember to notify BCCDC of any ILI outbreak occurring in your region by sending an e-mail to ilioutbreak@bccdc.ca. You are welcome to contact the BCCDC Influenza & Emerging Respiratory Pathogens Team with any questions.