Fragmentation of influenza surveillance in Australia

Monitoring of community influenza through sentinel practice networks is essential to track the onset and progress of epidemics. In 1999, the Influenza Pandemic Planning Committee of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia New Zealand (CDNANZ) recommended that a national surveillance system be established comprising both community-based and institutional surveillance. In 2001, however, influenza surveillance remains fragmented in Australia and mainly restricted to major cities. Methods of surveillance and reporting of influenza activity vary between States and even within States. Three disparate case definitions are in use for reporting influenza-like illnesses. Many sentinel sites do not have laboratory support for confirmation of influenza or identification of circulating strains. Dissemination of information is uncoordinated and without a standardised reporting format for collation at a national level. Prompt attention to these issues is important to ensure an adequate public health response to future influenza virus epidemics or a pandemic.