Weekly Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infection Report

	Current level of activity	Trend	News
Influenza	Low levels	Decreasing	Influenza is still circulating with activity at “low” intensity levels. Influenza B test positivity is increasing in community settings. Influenza A test positivity is decreasing. Influenza B was the largest detected subtype in the recent week.
RSV	Baseline	Stable	Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) has returned to baseline levels
COVID-19	*	Stable	Broadly stable and at lower levels than previously.

* Comparative thresholds for COVID-19 intensity are not yet available

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

Weekly Integrated respiratory infection report

As of 2024 Week 40, the Public Health Wales Weekly Integrated respiratory infection report replaces previously separate outputs on COVID-19 surveillance and influenza surveillance. The current week's report is available here:

Public: Weekly acute respiratory infection summary: Week 09 2025

Internal NHS users: Weekly acute respiratory infection summary: Week 09 2025

Latest vaccination coverage data: Public Health Wales Influenza Vaccination Coverage Downloadable Data

Key points

In Wales:

Flu activity surveillance update

The GP consultation rate for influenza in Wales during week 09, 2025 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 6.2 consultations per 100,000 practice population.
The rate decreased compared to week 08, 2025 (12.0 consultations per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update

A total of 319 surveillance samples were collected from patients presenting with ILI symptoms by sentinel GPs and community pharmacies during Week 09. Among these, the following pathogens were identified: 44 cases of influenza B, 38 cases of rhinovirus, 35 cases of seasonal coronaviruses, 25 cases of influenza A, 22 cases of human metapneumovirus, 12 for parainfluenza, nine cases of RSV, seven cases of C. pneumoniae, five cases of adenovirus, four cases of SARS-CoV-2, three cases of enterovirus, and two cases of bocavirus. Data are current as of 05/03/2025.
During week 08, 843 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, 55 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 decreased and is at low intensity levels.

Hospitalisations in confirmed cases of influenza and RSV

The 7-day rolling sums of cases hospitalised within 28 days of an influenza, RSV or SARS-CoV-2 positive test result in the community (or up to two days post-admission) were 47, 12 and 16 respectively for during week 9.
For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

In the UK and Europe

As of Week 8, GP ILI consultations decreased to 10.1 per 100,000 in England, increased in Northern Ireland to 12.5 per 100,000 and decreased to 7.7 per 100,000 in Scotland. UKHSA Influenza and COVID-19 Surveillance Report.
The WHO and the European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS) reported that influenza positivity is above the 10% positivity epidemic threshold.
For more information on European level influenza surveillance see European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS)

World Overview

The WHO reported on the 26/02/2025, based on data up the 16/02/2025 that in the Northern hemisphere, influenza activity remained elevated in many regions including North America (predominantly influenza A(H1N1)pdm09), Central America and the Caribbean (predominantly influenza A(H3N2)), Tropical South America (predominantly influenza B), Northern Africa (predominantly influenza A(H3N2)), Europe (seasonal influenza viruses of all subtypes) and Asia (predominantly influenza A(H1N1)pdm09). Activity increased in parts of North America, Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.
In the Southern hemisphere, activity remained elevated in a few countries in Eastern Africa (seasonal influenza viruses of all subtypes), South-East Asia and Oceania (predominantly influenza A(H1N1)pdm09). Activity decreased in several reporting countries. See full WHO influenza update

COVID-19

Latest COVID-19 data from Public Health Wales
Latest UK data is available from: UK GOV: Coronavirus Data
WHO situation updates on COVID-19 are available from: WHO situation updates are available here

MERS-CoV and H7N9 Updates

The WHO has published an updated assessment of recent influenza A(H5N1) virus events in animals and people. Currently, the global public health risk of influenza A(H5N1) viruses to be low, while the risk of infection for occupationally exposed persons is low to moderate, depending on the risk mitigation measures in place. Transmission between animals continues to occur and, to date, a limited number of human infections 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