Winter health watch summary: 10 April 2014
Published 10 April 2014
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1. Summary
This is the final Winter Health Watch Bulletin for winter 2013 to 2014.
Cold Weather Alerts are at Level 0 and Winter Health Watch will recommence with the launch of the 2014 to 2015 winter preparedness and action programme next winter.
Surveillance systems will continue to report on influenza, norovirus, rotavirus and syndromic surveillance.
All regions of England are now at Cold Weather Alert Level 0 ‘long term planning’ since 1 April 2014.
Influenza continues to circulate but with declining influenza-confirmed ICU/HDU and hospital admissions. Influenza activity reports will continue weekly.
Syndromic surveillance report there have been increases in asthma and difficulty breathing indicators across all syndromic surveillance systems. These increases coincided with a widespread increase in air pollution across England that peaked on 3 April 2014. Syndromic surveillance reports will continue weekly.
Norovirus activity is low. Reports of outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting in hospitals continue to be reported but at lower levels than in previous years. The number of laboratory reports of norovirus in the season to date is lower than the 5 year seasonal average (from season 2007 to 2008 to season 2011 to 2012). Norovirus activity reports will continue monthly
Rotavirus activity is low, laboratory reports are lower than the 10 season average (from season 2003 to 2004 to season 2012 to 2013). The decreased rotavirus activity is likely to be associated with the introduction of the oral vaccine in July 2013. Rotavirus activity reports will continue monthly.
In week 14 of 2014, no excess all-cause mortality by week of death was seen across the UK through the EuroMOMO algorithm and none has been reported since week 40 of 2013. Excess all-cause mortality in England will continue to be reported.
2. Surveillance reports
PHE syndromic surveillance page
PHE national seasonal influenza report
PHE all-cause mortality surveillance
3. Further information
NHS England winter health check
Met Office Get Ready for Winter