Declining influenza activity in Europe while public concern over SARS has not increased general practice consultations for influenza-like illness or acute respiratory infections

Influenza activity in the 22 networks (19 countries) that participate in the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS, http://www.eiss.org/) in the week ending 6 April 2003 (week 14/2003) was regional in Italy, local in nine networks and sporadic in eight networks (1). One network – Portugal – reported no influenza activity, indicating that the overall level of clinical activity was at baseline levels. Compared to week 13/2003, clinical morbidity rates declined in thirteen networks and remained stable in two (France and Slovenia).