Weekly Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infection Report

	Current level of activity	Trend	News
Influenza	Baseline	Decreasing	Influenza circulation has decreased and is returning to out of season levels.
RSV	Circulating, low intensity levels	Decreasing	Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) has decreasing and is at baseline intensity levels
COVID-19	Low levels	Broadly Stable	COVID-19 case numbers remain stable

* 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 11 2026

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 11, 2026 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 3.6 consultations per 100,000 practice population.
The rate increased compared to week 10 2026 (5.1 per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update

A total of 84 surveillance samples were collected from patients presenting with ILI symptoms by sentinel GP's and community pharmacies during Week 11, 2026. Among these, the following pathogens were identified: Ten cases of Human metapneumovirus, eight cases of coronaviruses, seven cases of rhinovirus, four cases of parainfluenza, two cases of enterovirus, one case of influenza A, one case of RSV, one case of bocavirus and one case of c.pneumonia. Data are current as at 18/03/2026.
During week 11, 933 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, one was 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 increased in week 10 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 a positive test for SARS-CoV-2, influenza and RSV positive test result in the community (or up to two days post-admission) were 10, 4 and 9 respectively for during week 11.
For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

In the UK and Europe

GP ILI consultations decreased to 3.6 per 100,000 in England, remained stable at 4.7 per 100,000 in Northern Ireland, and increased to 3.5 per 100,000 in Scotland in Week 10, 2026. 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

Globally, influenza detections continued to decline in week 9, with influenza A viruses remaining predominant. A slight rise in the proportion of influenza B detections was noted in recent weeks.
Northern hemisphere: Influenza percent positivity was elevated (>10%) in North America, Western and Northern Africa, and Western, Southern and South-East Asia. Percent positivity exceeded 30% in countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Europe and Eastern Asia. Increases in activity occurred in a few countries in Central America and the Caribbean and in single countries in Western and Eastern Africa, Southern and Eastern Asia.
Southern hemisphere: Influenza activity remained low overall. Elevated percent positivity (>10%) was reported in a few countries in Tropical South America and in single countries in Temperate South America and South-East Asia. No increases in activity were observed in any countries in the southern hemisphere.
Virus predominance: In zones with elevated positivity, A(H3N2) was predominant in most regions. Exceptions included Central America and the Caribbean and Western Asia, where A(H1N1)pdm09 was dominant; Western Africa, where influenza B was dominant; and Northern Africa, South-East and Eastern Asia, where A(H3N2) and B were codominant. 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