Increasing laboratory confirmed cases of influenza in Europe, particularly cases of influenza B in the south west

Eleven networks in Europe reported no influenza activity to the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS, http://www.eiss.org/) in the week ending 29 December 2002 (week 52). Four networks reported sporadic activity (Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland), and one network (France) reported regional activity (1). A report of no influenza activity indicates that the overall level of clinical activity was at baseline levels. In France, influenza activity was the highest in the Rhône-Alpes (south east), the Midi-Pyrénées (south west) and the Normandy (north west) regions. The intensity of clinical activity was medium in Spain and low in all of the other networks.