Influenza: Canada
Season to date (28 August 2005 to 3 June 2006), the Public Health Agency of Canada has received 78,552 reports of laboratory tests for influenza; 7,391 (9.4%) were positive, including 4,505 (61%) influenza A detections and 2,886 (39%) influenza B detections. Since the start of the 2005-2006 influenza season, the National Microbiology Laboratory has antigenically characterized 972 influenza viruses: 437 (45%) A/California/7/2004(H3N2)-like; 313 (32%) B/Malaysia/2506/04-like; 136 (14%) B/Hong Kong/330/01-like; 79 (8%) A/New Caledonia/20/1999 (H1N1)-like; and 7 (1%) B/Shanghai/361/2002-like. Since March 2006, all of the influenza B viruses characterized have been B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like (B/Victoria/02/1987 lineage), which is the recommended influenza B component for next season's vaccine. However, a B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus, which is the B component for this season's vaccine, was detected in early June in Prince Edward Island. To date this season, 161 LTCF outbreaks have been reported.
Source: FluWatch, 21 May to 3 June 2006 (Weeks 21 and 22), Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Public Health Agency of Canada

Tuberculosis (TB): Manitoba (Update)
Public health officials continue to investigate a cluster of TB cases in the province. As of 9 June, the TB cluster consists of 27 cases of active tuberculosis. These cases are being treated. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: News Release, Manitoba Health, 9 June 2006

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: United States
During January-March 2006, a total of nine confirmed cases (based on onset date) of HPS were reported from Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, and Washington. Six of the nine cases were in Arizona and New Mexico. During 1994 and 1999, a similar number of HPS cases was confirmed nationally in the same 3-month period. Both years were characterized by environmental conditions (e.g., increased rainfall and vegetative biomass) during the preceding 1-2 years that promoted increased rodent populations. This, in turn, increased virus transmission in the rodent populations and increased exposure risk for humans. During 1994, 1999, and 2000, more than six cases were confirmed in the first 3 months of each year, and all had a high yearly total of HPS cases. Nine cases of HPS were identified in the first 3 months of 2006, suggesting that a greater risk for human hantavirus infection might exist this year.
Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Volume 55, No. 22, 9 June 2006

Legionellosis Outbreak: Spain
By 8 June 2006, 139 cases of legionellosis had been reported in an outbreak in Pamplona, north Spain. All cases presented with clinical signs of pneumonia, compatible radiography and positive urinary antigen test. Seventy six (76) of the patients (55%) were admitted to hospital, and the other 63 patients have been given treatment to take at home. A total of 7 patients have required intensive care, and 6 patients remained in intensive care, two of whom are seriously ill. No deaths have occurred. Men represent 47% of cases. The patients range in age between 21-97 years. Most of the initial cases occurred in a neighbourhood close to the city centre, and the investigations began on 1 June with the inspection of 30 cooling towers in 11 buildings in this part of the city. Rapid tests for Legionella antigen were positive in four of the towers, located in three buildings, on 2 June, and these four towers were shut down immediately. Culture and PCR for Legionella have been positive in two of these cooling towers, but could not be confirmed in the other two. The Public Health Institute in Navarra found Legionella with low bacterial load in two further cooling towers, which were shut down on 6 June. A helicopter inspection of the area was carried out on 2 June and identified eight structures that resembled undeclared cooling towers in the investigated area, but further investigation has found that none of these structures is a cooling tower. Microbiological culture of respiratory samples from patients are in progress.
Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly, Volume 11, Issue 6, 8 June 2006

The details given are for information only and may be very provisional. Where incidents are considered of national importance and are ongoing, the initial report will be updated as new information becomes available.