Influenza in Ireland Week 2 of 2012

Influenza activity in Ireland continued to increase during week 2 2012, however, remained at low levels. The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was slightly increased from the rate of week 1 2011. ILI rates remain below the Irish baseline threshold. To date this season, influenza A (H3) has been the dominant influenza virus detected. There were three confirmed influenza hospitalised cases notified during week 2 2012. One influenza B associated death was reported during week 2 2012, this is the first influenza-associated death reported for the 2011/2012 influenza season. One influenza A outbreak was reported in a hospital setting during week 2 2012. Influenza activity in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere remained below seasonal threshold levels, although persistence of increased activity over recent weeks in some areas is likely to represent the start of influenza transmission. http://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates

Influenza in Ireland Week 48

All indicators of influenza activity in Ireland were at low levels during week 48 2011. The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was slightly increased from the updated rate of week 47. ILI rates remain below the Irish baseline threshold and remain at low levels in all age groups. No influenza positive specimens were reported from the NVRL for week 48 2011, from sentinel or non-sentinel sources. There have been no reports of any influenza-associated deaths to date this season. No outbreaks of influenza/ILI have been reported to date this season. Influenza activity in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere remained low. More influenza viruses are being detected in EU/EEA countries. http://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/en/index.html

Dr John Gallagher MB MMedSc FRCPI FFOMI
Occupational Physician,

Influenza in Ireland Week 47

By Dr D Gallagher, Employment health Advisors (EHA):
All indicators of influenza activity in Ireland were at low levels during week 47 2011. The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was slightly decreased from the rate reported during week 46 2011. ILI rates remain below the Irish baseline threshold and are low in all age groups. The proportion of influenza–related calls to GP Out-of-Hours services remained at low levels during week 47 2011. Two influenza positive specimens (one influenza A H3 and one influenza B) were reported from the NVRL for week 47 2011. No confirmed influenza cases were hospitalised or admitted to ICU between weeks 40-47 2011. There have been no reports of any influenza-associated deaths to date this season. No outbreaks of influenza/ILI have been reported to date this season. Influenza activity in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere remained low or undetectable. http://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/en/index.html

Influenza in Ireland Week 45

All indicators of influenza activity in Ireland were at low levels during week 45 2011. The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was increased slightly from the rate of week 44 2011. ILI rates remain below the Irish baseline threshold. ILI rates remain at low levels in all age groups. The proportion of influenza–related calls to GP Out-of-Hours services remained at low levels during week 45 2011. No influenza positive specimens were reported from the NVRL from sentinel or non-sentinel sources for week 45 2011 or for the season to date. To date this season, no confirmed influenza cases have been hospitalised, or admitted to ICU. There have been no reports of any influenza-associated deaths. No outbreaks of influenza/ILI have been reported to date this season. Influenza activity in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere remained low or undetectable.

Influenza in Ireland Week 43

All indicators of influenza activity in Ireland were at low levels during week 43 2011. The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was slightly decreased from week 42 2011. ILI rates remain below the Irish baseline threshold and remain at low levels in all age groups. The proportion of influenza–related calls to GP Out-of-Hours services remained at low levels during week 43 2011. No influenza positive specimens were reported from the NVRL from sentinel or non-sentinel sources for week 43 2011 or for the season to date. To date this season, no confirmed influenza cases have been hospitalised, or admitted to ICU. There have been no reports of any influenza-associated deaths. No outbreaks of influenza/ILI have been reported to date this season.
Influenza activity in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere remained low or undetectable. http://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/en/index.html

Employment Health Advisors

Professional Drivers Exposed to Legionella

From Dr John Gallagher, EHA:

A source of infection is rarely identified for sporadic cases of Legionnaires’ disease. Researchers at the UK Health Protection Agency found that professional drivers are five times more commonly represented among community acquired sporadic cases in England and Wales than expected. The researchers therefore investigated possible risks related to driving or spending time in a motor vehicle.
A case control study including all surviving community acquired sporadic cases in England and Wales with onset between 12 July 2008 and 9 March 2009 was carried out. Cases were contacted by phone and controls were consecutively recruited. The questionnaire included questions on driving habits, potential sources in vehicles and known risk factors. 75 cases and 67 controls were included in the study.

Multivariable analysis identified two risk factors linked to vehicle use associated with an increased risk of Legionnaires’ disease: driving through industrial areas and driving or being a passenger in a vehicle with windscreen wiper fluid not containing added screenwash. Not adding screenwash to windscreen wiper fluid is a previously unidentified risk factor and appears to be strongly associated with community acquired sporadic cases of Legionnaires’ disease. The researchers estimated that around 20% of community acquired sporadic cases could be attributed to this exposure. A simple recommendation to use screenwash may mitigate transmission of Legionella bacteria to drivers and passengers [47].
Source: http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/literature_reviews/legionella-policy-overview.pdf

Influenza in Ireland weeks 37 and 38

By Dr. John Gallagher, Employment Health Advisors (EHA):
All indicators of influenza activity in Ireland have continued to remain at low levels. The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rates remained low and below baseline levels during weeks 37 and 38 2011. No positive influenza specimens were detected by the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) from sentinel or non-sentinel sources during weeks 37 and 38 2011. There have been no reports of confirmed influenza cases admitted to hospital or of any influenza-associated deaths occurring during the summer period. No new general outbreaks of influenza/ILI have been reported since week 5 2011.
As of 23rd September 2011, influenza activity in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere remained low or undetectable. Countries in the tropical zone mostly reported low influenza activity but with some transmission reported in countries of the Americas (Cuba, Honduras and Bolivia), western Africa (Cameroon) and southern Asia (India, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore). Transmission in South Africa has declined to low levels. In Australia, the number of laboratory confirmed influenza notifications reported is declining in Queensland, New South Wales (NSW) and other states with the exception of the Northern Territory. The number of oseltamivir-resistant influenza A (H1N1) 2009 viruses detected in the recently reported cluster in New South Wales, Australia, appears to be declining as the season in Australia wanes. The geographic area of spread of this cluster is wider than originally reported. All of the viruses from the cluster were sensitive to zanamivir, and none have died. Investigations into this cluster are ongoing. ILI activity in New Zealand continues around national baseline levels and the majority of viruses detected have been influenza B.

http://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/updates/en/index.html

Flu email update – Week 31

Update by Dr J Gallagher, Employment Health Advisors (EHA):
As of week 31 all indicators of influenza activity in Ireland continue to remain at low levels. The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rates remained low and below baseline levels. No positive influenza specimens were detected by the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL). No confirmed influenza cases have been admitted to hospital or ICU during the summer period. No new general outbreaks of influenza/ILI have been reported since week 5 2011.

As of 29th July 2011, influenza activity in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere remained low or undetectable. In the tropical zone, influenza transmission continued in a few countries of the Americas (Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Colombia), western Africa (Ghana and Cameroon), and parts of Asia (India, Bangladesh, and Singapore). Influenza transmission in South Africa has declined to low levels, with mainly influenza A (H1N1) 2009 detections. In Australia, ILI consultations and laboratory-confirmed cases continued to increase. ILI activity in New Zealand has returned to baseline levels. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/en/

CNOOC Refinery blaze ‘never threatened nuke plant’

Source: joiff.com

HUIZHOU, Guangdong – A fire that broke out early on Monday at an oil refinery in South China’s Guangdong province did not threaten the safety of the nearby Dayawan Nuclear Power Station, local authorities have said. The fire was reported at 4:10 am after oil ignited after leaking from equipment at the Huizhou Refinery run by China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC), said a spokesman from the Dayawan Economic and Technical Development Zone. Flames rose to more than 100 meters and 63 fire engines were used to fight the fire, the spokesman said. No casualties were reported. As of 5:20 pm, the fire had been extinguished, according to sources with the Guangdong provincial fire control authorities.However, worries about further incidents related to the fire were raised among netizens, given that the refinery is only 40 km from the Dayawan Nuclear Power Station, which is one of the major nuclear installations on Guangdong’s coast.”I thought of the nuclear power plant when the fire was reported. It could have been so dangerous,” said YanyanV, a netizen who was commenting via weibo.com. Pictures posted online appeared to show people who live near Dayawan Bay fleeing the area after the fire was reported. However, the fire control authorities said any concerns about the blaze impacting the nuclear power plant were groundless. “The fire is under control. The fire-fighting materials used have been collected and transferred to an oil spill containment pool. There is no need to worry about further incidents,” Gao Gang, a spokesman from the Guangdong provincial fire control authority, told China Daily. Representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection stationed within Dayawan Nuclear Power Station also said the fire would not affect the facility. As of 2 pm on Monday, the fire had been contained to an area of about 10 square meters, sources from the fire control authority said. Firefighters continued to fight the remaining flames and were mindful of a large quantity of materials at the site, including 1,170 tons of dimethylbenzene, an inflammable chemical.

Influenza in Ireland remains at low levels July 2011

Dr John Gallagher, Employment Health Advisors (EHA):

All indicators of influenza activity in Ireland continue to remain at low levels. The sentinel GP influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rates remained low and below baseline levels during weeks 24 and 25 2011. The proportion of influenza–related calls to GP Out-of-Hours services remained at low levels during weeks 24 and 25 2011. No positive influenza specimens were detected by the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) from sentinel or non-sentinel sources during weeks 24 and 25 2011. No new general outbreaks of influenza/ILI have been reported since week 5 2011.
As of 1st July 2011, influenza activity in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere is at baseline inter-seasonal levels. Transmission in tropical areas is low overall with focal areas of transmission noted in a few countries of Central America and northern South America, western and eastern regions of sub-Saharan Africa, and tropical Asia. The influenza season has now started in South Africa and may be starting in Australia as well. South Africa has continued to report increasing numbers of both mild and severe cases, primarily related to influenza A (H1N1) 2009. Australia has noted a recent increase in emergency room visits due to ILI and significantly increased notifications of influenza activity in the states of South Australia and Queensland. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/en/