Epidemiological Surveillance of Pandemic H1N1 2009 infections in Northern Greece

In response to the health emergency declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in April 2009, Greece set up an enhanced surveillance system for pandemic H1N1 2009 by the 30th of April 2009. During the period of study (weeks 19-53), 3.903 suspected pharyngeal were examined at the National Influenza Centre for northern Greece. 1439 specimens were confirmed as pandemic H1N1 2009 (37.23%) infections. The hospitalization rate increased dramatically during November and December, while the death rate was 1.3%.