While the latest statistics from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show a levelling off in influenza -like illness in the Republic, the country remains firmly in the grip of the annual flu season. Reduced workplace and school attendance reflect the activity of influenza and other viruses in the community. Influenza B remains the dominant circulating influenza virus to date this season, accounting for 87 per cent of all influenza positive specimens detected by the National Virus Reference Laboratory. But the number of cases of the other main flu type – influenza A – has increased slightly in recent weeks. And the US is experiencing its worst flu season for years.
This year may not be an “avian” or “swine” flu season, with a move away from the H1N1/H5N1 subtypes that dominated the northern hemisphere’s influenza statistics in previous years. But the ability to report this with confidence is a reflection of the high quality of surveillance systems across the EU and beyond. They depend on national laboratories for the testing of human samples to identify the virus types circulating in the community.
Ongoing research into the changing virulence and transmissibility of the influenza virus is essential. Influenza scientists around the world have resumed research into how the avian virus can jump from birds to mammals. They are lifting a year-long voluntary moratorium, implemented in response to fears about what would happen if the laboratory animals escaped or the modified virus transferred into humans. Publication of the research had been suspended following concern the information could be used by bioterrorists. In the meantime the World Health Organisation has issued recommendations on improved bio-safety. Amid tighter research controls, Dutch and US scientists last week announced the resumption of the research. Well-regulated scientific research must continue to play its role in protecting public health from pandemic infectious disease.