Weekly Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infection Report

Current level of influenza activity:	Low
Trend:	Decreasing
News:	Influenza circulation is now returning to low levels. COVID-19 cases have increased since week 16. Additionally, detections of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and rhinovirus remain elevated.

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 25 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 0.9 consultations per 100,000 practice population (latest data available)
The rate decreased compared to week 24 (2.4 consultations per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update

75 surveillance samples from patients with ILI symptoms collected by sentinel GPs and community pharmacies during Week 25. Of the 75 samples reported in Week 25, 15 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 10 for rhinovirus, eight for mycoplasma, three for adenovirus, two for human metapneumovirus, two for influenza A(H1N1), two for influenza A(H3N2), one for enterovirus and one for bocavirus as at 25/06/2024.
During week 25, 1,191 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, four 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 four and six respectively during Week 24, and 53 for SARS-CoV-2 during week 24.
For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

As of week 22, influenza consultations decreased to 0.9 per 100,000 in England and to 2.9 per 100,000 in Scotland in week 23. 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 19/06/2024, based on data up to 09/06/2024 that in the Northern hemisphere elevated activity continued to be reported in countries in Central America, Caribbean, and South Asia, primarily due to influenza A(H3). In the temperate zones influenza activity remained low at interepidemic levels.
In the Southern hemisphere countries in South America, South Africa and Oceania continued to report elevated influenza activity. In South America activity was primarily due to influenza A(H3), in South Africa influenza A(H1N1) predominated, and in Oceania influenza A viruses co circulated.
See full WHO influenza update

WHO was notified of three new MERS cases between 10 and 17 April 2024 by the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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