Some seasons show a second surge of infection with influenza B after an initial influenza A outbreak. They identify rising consultation rates for influenza, which act as a warning that there is an outbreak. Public Health Laboratories also report centrally in Britain to the National Communicable Disease Laboratory. They report all virus isolates of influenza, complementing GP spotter practices in confirming the present influenza pattern. Polymerase chain reaction identifies circulating viruses rapidly.
Identification is available by the next working day.
This compares favourably with culture, which takes a week, and serology, which takes three weeks. This would confirm the type of virus circulating locally and give early warning of an outbreak. Such a scheme is likely to be funded nationally in Scotland this season. The Primary Care Virology Group is a group of four GPs with a special interest in virology. It aims to raise awareness of viral disease and its effective management in primary care.