Influenza (Hansard, 30 January 2004)

HC Deb 30 January 2004 vol 417 cc558-9W 558W

§ Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what definition the Department uses of an influenza epidemic; [142961]
559W
(2) how many reported cases of influenza there were in each of the last five years; and in which of these year the reported level of influenza cases has been classified as an epidemic. [142962]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
The numbers of influenza-like illnesses reported to the Royal College of General Practitioners in the past five winter seasons are shown in the table.
In none of these years did the level of general practitioner consultation rate reach 400 per 100,000 of the population, which is the level required to be classed as an epidemic.

Number of influenza like illnesses

1998–99 10,044

1999–2000 8,513

2000–01 5,901

2001–02 4,111

2002–03 3,541

	Number of influenza like illnesses
1998–99	10,044
1999–2000	8,513
2000–01	5,901
2001–02	4,111
2002–03	3,541