HPS Weekly National Seasonal Respiratory Report - week ending 3 February 2019

In week 5, the rate of GP consultations for ILI increased and breached the baseline threshold for normal seasonal activity.

Influenza laboratory detections are at moderate activity levels in secondary care and moderate activity levels in general practices. Influenza A(H1N1) is the dominant influenza strain thus far this season and is affecting a younger age group than observed last season which had been dominated by influenza A(H3N2).

A Scottish addendum to the Public Health England guidance on use of antiviral agents for the treatment and prophylaxis of seasonal influenza has been published on the ​HPS website.

An increase in community circulation of influenza prompted the issue of a CMO letter in week 2 advising that GPs may prescribe antivirals.