BELNIC

Belgian National Influenza Centre

Centre National de Référence pour la Grippe, Belgique

Nationaal Reference Centrum voor Griep, België

Through specialized networks in Belgium, we cover the laboratory part of the surveillance of Influenza virus circulation during the yearly epidemics.

The data collected in Belgium are fed into the surveillance systems

THIS WEEK IN A NUTSHELL

Active surveillance of seasonal (winter) flu runs from week 40 (beginning of October) till week 20 of the following year.

Samples received from ILI/SARI surveillance networks are first analysed by real-time RT-PCR to detect and characterize influenza viruses.

Surveillance for season 2019/2020 has officially started for ILI since September 30th 2019.

SARI surveillance has started since January 6th 2020.

All other hospitals in Belgium are invited to send samples from

severe influenza cases using the HOSPI form (NL / FR).

ILI incidence:

week 04: Belgium reports low activity though increasing trend

virological data update:

since the beginning of season 2019/2020, the NIC has received and analysed:

211 ILI & 275 SARI

Detection of A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B/Victoria

Last update of data: 30/01/2020

Influenza-like Illness

more than 80 GP

inclusion criteria:

sudden onset

fever

cough or dyspnea

Severe Acute Respiratory Infections

6 hospitals

inclusion criteria:

onset within 10 days

fever or history of fever

cough or dyspnea

minimum overnight hospitalisation