Winter health watch summary: 20 March 2014
Published 20 March 2014
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1. Summary
All regions of England have been at Cold Weather Alert Level 1 ‘winter preparedness and action’ since 1 November 2013.
Influenza continues to circulate as evidenced by ongoing influenza-confirmed ICU/HDU and hospital admissions, with indicators suggesting activity is starting to decrease. A letter has been issued recommending the use of antivirals where appropriate.
GP consultations for pharyngitis/scarlet fever are higher than at similar times last year. Syndromic surveillance indicators for influenza remain stable and similar to seasonally expected levels. Gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and vomiting consultations are lower than expected for the time of year across all systems.
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).
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.
In week 11 of 2014, no excess all-cause mortality by week of death was seen in England through the EuroMOMO algorithm and none has been reported since week 40 of 2013.
2. Surveillance reports, updated weekly
PHE syndromic surveillance page
PHE national seasonal influenza report
PHE weekly all-cause mortality surveillance
3. Further information
NHS England winter health check
Met Office Get Ready for Winter