Weekly Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infection Report

Current level of influenza activity:	Low
Trend:	Decreasing
News:	Influenza circulation is now returning to low levels, although overall activity has decreased. COVID-19 cases are at low levels but increased since week 16.

For the latest annual influenza and acute respiratory infections in Wales reports see: Annual influenza surveillance and influenza vaccination uptake reports

Flu activity surveillance update

The GP consultation rate for influenza in Wales during week 17 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 5.7 consultations per 100,000 practice population..
The rate increased compared to week 16 (4.7 consultations per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update

120 surveillance samples from patients with ILI symptoms collected by sentinel GPs and community pharmacies during Week 17. Of the 120 samples, four tested positive for influenza A (four influenza A(H3N2), 24 rhinovirus, 16 mycoplasma, 10 parainfluenza, four seasonal coronavirus, three human metapneumovirus, two influenza B, two adenovirus, two enterovirus, one RSV, one bocavirus and one SARS-CoV-2 as at 01/05/2024
During week 17, 1,375 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, 18 were positive for influenza. A number of other causes of acute respiratory infection were identified (see full report). These tests are usually prioritised for symptomatic patients in hospitals, or less commonly community settings.
Confirmed RSV case incidence in children aged under 5 remained at baseline intensity levels.

Hospitalisations in confirmed cases of influenza and RSV

The 7-day rolling sums of cases hospitalised within 28 days of an influenza or RSV positive test result in the community (or up to two days post-admission) were eight and five respectively during Week 17, and 18 for SARS-CoV-2 during week 17.
For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

As of week 16, influenza consultations remained stable at 3.0 per 100,000 in England and decreased to 4.5 per 100,000 in Scotland. UK summary data is available from the UKHSA Influenza and COVID-19 Surveillance Report.
The WHO and the European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS) reported that influenza positivity is now below the 10% positivity epidemic threshold.
For more information on European level influenza surveillance see European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS)

The WHO reported on 24/04/2024, based on data up to 14/04/2024 that influenza activity continues to decrease in the northern hemisphere and remains low in the southern hemisphere.
In the Northern hemisphere some countries in Central America, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean are reporting continued circulation. The predominant subtype varies by region.
In the Southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained low with a few exceptions in South America, where influenza activity increased with predominantly influenza A detections.
See full WHO influenza update

On the 10/07/2023 WHO were notified by the United Arab Emirates(UAE) of a case of MERS-CoV. In total, 2,605 laboratory-confirmed cases of locally acquired Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) worldwide, including 936 deaths
The latest WHO Influenza at Human-Animal Interface summary (08/04/2022 to 13/05/2022) reports that there have been no publicly available records from China or other countries on avian influenza A(H7N9) in recent months. Since February 2013, a total of 1,568 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9), including at least 616 deaths, have been reported.
Updates are available from WHO Global Alert and Response
Latest WHO Influenza Monthly Risk Assessment Summary
Public Health Wales has published advice to health professionals which is available at MERS-CoV and Influenza H7N9 infection control preparedness