Although the 2019 influenza season has not yet started, there has been an increase in the detection of influenza in specimens submitted to the NICD through the outpatient respiratory infections monitoring programmes. We have identified infections with the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza A(H3N2) subtypes from these programmes.
The average onset of the influenza season over the past 13 years has been week 20 (mid-May) ranging from end April to mid-June. The latest NICD influenza surveillance report can be accessed by clicking here.
Influenza vaccine remains the primary means for preventing seasonal influenza infection, a protective antibody response takes about 2 weeks to develop, although it is never too late to vaccinate.
