Southern Hemisphere Influenza and Vaccine Effectiveness Research and Surveillance

Huang, Qiu Sue; Turner, Nikki; Baker, Michael G; Williamson, Deborah A; Wong, Conroy; Webby, Richard; Widdowson, Marc-Alain

In 2013, we began active, prospective, population-based surveillance for influenza and other respiratory pathogens among persons enrolled in sentinel general practices who seek medical consultations (Figure 4 ). Eighteen sentinel general practices situated within ADHB and CMDHB were recruited. These practices have a combined total of 103 752 enrolled patients, covering approximately 12% of the ADHB and CMDHB population. The participating general practitioners (GP) and practice nurses (PN) assessed all consultationseeking patients. If a patient met the influenza-like illness (ILI) case definition: 'an acute respiratory illness with a history of fever or measured fever of ≥38°C, and cough, and onset within the past 10 days, and requiring consultation in that general practice', a respiratory specimen (nasopharyngeal swab or throat swab) was collected to test for influenza and other respiratory viruses by real-time RT-PCR ( Figure 3 ). GP/PN documented the components of the case definition that were present and recorded patients who met the ILI case definition in an advanced electronic form designed for the practice management system (PMS). Patient information already captured in the PMS was automatically retrieved, including demography, comorbidities, vaccination history and regular medication list. Further data were captured by interviewing ILI patients regarding influenza vaccination obtained elsewhere, pregnancy and a clinician's judgement of obesity.