Two waves of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 in Wales--the possible impact of media coverage on consultation rates, April-December 2009.

摘要: In the United Kingdom, influenza A(H1N1)2009 pandemic had a distinct two-wave pattern of general practice consultations for influenza-like illness (ILI). We describe epidemiology in Wales between April and December 2009 using integrated data from number independent sources: GP surveillance, community virology hospital admissions deaths, media enquiries monitoring. The first wave peaked late July at 100 per 100,000 population attracted intensive coverage. positivity rate did not exceed 25% only 44 hospitalisations one death were recorded. By contrast, second October although characterised by lower ILI consultation rates (65 population) low profile activity, was associated with much higher (60%) substantially more (n=379) deaths (n=26). large ILI-related during probably reflected activity rather than virus circulating community. Data surveillance schemes may therefore have considerably overestimated true incidence influenza. This has implications future interpretation their use policy making, underlines importance epidemiological, virological to monitor activity.