Eurosurveillance - Volume 6, Issue 9, 01 September 2001

In countries covered by the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS), the 2000-2001 winter was marked mainly by the spread of influenza A(H1N1) viruses. Influenza B, which globally represented a minority of cases, was common later in the season and predo-minant in Great Britain, Ireland, and Portugal. Influenza activity was at its maximum during the period of January and February/March 2001 with little time lag between countries (maximum four weeks). Overall, the morbidity rates reported were much lower than for the previous season, illustrating a moderate level of influenza activity.

The World Health Organization strongly recommends that all countries prepare in advance multidisciplinary pandemic plans to prevent and control the next influenza pandemic. We carried out a survey of influenza surveil-lance methods among members of the European Influenza Surveillance Schemes, EISS, which included a set of questions on pandemic planning. All but one of the countries have a pandemic plan or are in the process of producing one. A coordination of these different national plans at a European level would probably contribute to their improved impact and efficiency.