Winter health watch summary: 31 December 2014
Published 26 March 2015
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1. Summary
A Level 2 Cold Weather Alert was issued on 25 December for the period 26 to 31 December across England. This was upgraded to a level 3 alert for North East England, North West England, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands and West Midlands on 26 December, with other regions remaining at level 2. All regions returned to Cold Weather Alert Level 1 on 31 December. A previous level 2 alert was issued for the period 11 to 13 December for North East England, North West England, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Syndromic surveillance indicators for respiratory infections including influenza-like illness continued to increase across all syndromic systems during week 52. GP consultations for asthma continue to rise but are decreasing in children. There was an increase in pneumonia indicators (Emergency department syndromic surveillance system and GP in hours syndromic surveillance system) in the over 65 years age group.
In week 52 2014 (ending 28 December), allowing for Christmas reporting breaks, across indicators influenza activity remained at broadly similar levels to those reported the previous week. Overall, levels remain similar to the peak of flu activity observed in the last 3 seasons, but have not reached the levels seen in the last notable seasons of 2010 to 2011 and 2008 to 2009. The Department of Health have issued an alert on the prescription of antiviral medicines by GPs.
The number of laboratory reports of norovirus in the season to date is 4% higher overall than the 5 year seasonal average (from season 2009 and 2010 to season 2013 and 2014). However, laboratory reports are currently at similar levels to the same weeks in previous years. Reports of outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting in hospitals continue to be reported at similar levels to previous years.[1]
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.[1]
In week 51 2014, no excess all-cause mortality by week of death was seen in England through the EuroMOMO algorithm.
2. Surveillance reports updated weekly
PHE syndromic surveillance page
PHE national seasonal influenza report
PHE weekly all-cause mortality surveillance
3. Further information
Met Office Get Ready for Winter
4. Planning resources
Cold weather plan for England 2014
[1] PHE have recently introduced a new laboratory reporting system so direct comparisons between norovirus and rotavirus data from the previous system (LabBase2) and the new system (SGSS) may not be valid.