Influenza activity is remains low, at the usual level for this time of year. During the week 15 - 22nd March 2010, none of the swabs collected from patients presenting with influenza-like illnesses tested positive for influenza. The number of people with an influenza-like illness visiting their doctor is tracking at similar levels to last week and remains under 'baseline' levels.

Weekly consultation rates for influenza-like illness in New Zealand, 2008-2010 *A weekly rate of less than 50 ILI consultations per 100,000 patient population is considered baseline activity. A rate of 50-249 is considered indicative of normal seasonal influenza activity, and a rate of 250-399 indicative of higher than expected influenza activity. A rate of over 400 ILI consultations per 100,000 patient population indicates an epidemic level of influenza activity.

Source: Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Influenza Weekly Update 2010/11

International situation

As at 19 March 2010, WHO reports that since the pandemic began in April 2009 more than 213 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including 16813 laboratory-confirmed deaths. WHO is continuing to actively monitor the progress of the pandemic. The most active areas of transmission are currently in parts of Southeast Asia amd West Africa Limited data suggests that on-going community transmission continues to increase across parts of Central America and the Caribbean.

For the WHO's latest updates on the global pandemic, check their website: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/