The Ministry of Health continues to monitor for any early signs of an upswing in influenza - at the moment the rates of pandemic influenza remain at very low levels.

Vaccine update

This year the Ministry of Health is taking a phased approach to protecting New Zealanders from influenza.

The first phase, 'Early Protection' kicks off next month when a single-strain pandemic H1N1 vaccine will be offered to those most at risk of getting influenza and developing complications. Those eligible for this vaccine include frontline healthcare workers as well as people under 65 years of age (including children) with certain medical conditions (as for seasonal influenza), pregnant women, people who are morbidly obese, and all children aged six months to five years who are enrolled with designated GP practices that have high numbers of patients who are Maori, Pacific or from high deprivation areas. This vaccine, which involves a two-dose course, will be progressively rolled out through DHBs from next week.

The second phase is the seasonal influenza programme. This year the seasonal influenza vaccine contains the pandemic H1N1 strain along with two prevalent influenza strains. Three suppliers are providing vaccine to New Zealand, and it's expected to be available at GPs from early to mid March. As in previous years, the seasonal influenza vaccine is available free for many people including anyone aged over 65, and all other people who meet the criteria for having a serious on-going medical condition. In addition, pregnant women, morbidly obese people and children from certain GP practices (as outlined above) are also eligible to receive the vaccine free of charge this year. Further information on who's eligible for the free vaccine is available on the Ministry of Health website: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/influenza-a-h1n1-questions#vaccine Weekly consultation rates for Influenza-like illness in New Zealand 2008, 2009, 2010 International situation

The World Health Organization reports that as at 17 January 2010 worldwide more than 209 countries and overseas territories and communities have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 14,142 deaths.

WHO report that the overall situation is largely unchanged since last week. The most intense transmission of pandemic influenza virus continues to occur in North Africa, South Asia, and in limited areas of Eastern Europe. Overall pandemic influenza activity in the temperate Northern hemisphere peaked between late October and late November 2009 and has continued to decline since. The Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN) continues monitoring the global circulation of influenza viruses, including pandemic, seasonal and other influenza viruses infecting, or wiht the potential to infect, humans including seasonal influenza. For more information on this refer to the weekly virology update on the WHO website.