BCCDC Influenza Update: Sporadic Flu Detections in BC

Sporadic influenza activity has been detected in BC and elsewhere in Canada this summer, with some provinces reporting summer outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Influenza A(H3N2) had been the predominant subtype during this period.

In the southern hemisphere where they are in the midst of their winter seasonal epidemic, influenza activity has increased or peaked in most countries in recent weeks. In Australia and New Zealand, influenza activity predominately due to A(H3N2) is increasing with lesser co-circulation of B(Yamagata) viruses. In some Southeast Asian countries, high levels of influenza activity continue to be reported, including in Myanmar where A(H1N1)pdm09 is predominating and in Southern China and Hong Kong where a severe summer influenza epidemic due to A(H3N2) is underway.

As in previous years, the US CDC has reported sporadic human cases of novel influenza A viruses associated with exposure to swine at agriculture fairs, including human cases of A(H1N2)v (the first reported in 2017) and A(H3N2)v, this summer.

Sporadic detections of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) associated with a hospital cluster in Saudi Arabia and avian influenza A(H7N9) in China were also reported during this period.

BC Influenza Surveillance Bulletins are available 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. A copy of the current outbreak report form can be downloaded here.

Feel free to contact the BCCDC Influenza & Emerging Respiratory Pathogens Team with any questions or concerns.