Weekly Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infection Report

	Current level of activity	Trend	News
Influenza	Circulating, low levels	Increasing	Evidence from surveillance suggests that influenza is now circulating in the community in Wales. Current activity levels are low, but increasing.
RSV	Circulating, low levels	Increasing	Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) confirmed case incidence in children <5y of age suggests that the RSV season is now underway. Currently activity is at medium intensity levels.
COVID-19	*	Decreasing	COVID-19 case numbers remain elevated, but are decreasing.

* 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 44 2025

Internal NHS users: Weekly acute respiratory infection summary: Week 44 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 44, 2025 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 5.9 consultations per 100,000 practice population.
The rate decreased compared to week 43 2025 (7.8 consultations per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update

A total of 300 surveillance samples were collected from patients presenting with ILI symptoms by sentinel GP's and community pharmacies during Week 44. Among these, the following pathogens were identified: 67 cases of rhinovirus, 43 cases of influenza A, 19 of parainfluenza, 9 cases of SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19), 7 cases of RSV, 5 cases of human metapneumovirus, 5 cases of enterovirus, 4 cases of adenovirus, 2 cases of seasonal coronoviruses and 1 case of C.pneumoniae. Data are current as at 05/11/2025.
During week 44, 1,055 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, 43 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 increased in Week 44 and is now at medium 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 57, 71 and 34 respectively for during week 44.
For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

In the UK and Europe

GP ILI consultations increased to 6.0 per 100,000 in England, and to 6.6 per 100,000 in Northern Ireland and decreased to 3.2 per 100,000 in Scotland in Week 43. UKHSA Influenza and COVID-19 Surveillance Report.
The WHO and the European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS) reported that influenza positivity is below the 10% positivity epidemic threshold.
For more information on European level influenza surveillance see European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS)

World Overview

Influenza activity remained low worldwide, with influenza A viruses continuing to predominate. Transmission patterns varied across hemispheres and regions.
Southern Hemisphere: Influenza activity remained low and stable in most reporting countries with elevated positivity (>10%) observed in single countries in Eastern Africa and South East Asia. Small increases in activity were observed in single countries in South East Asia and Oceania.
Northern Hemisphere: Over the past few weeks, influenza activity remained low and stable across most transmission zones. Elevated positivity rates were reported in Central America and the Caribbean, Western, Northern, Eastern and Middle Africa and Western, Southern, and South-East Asia. In some countries, positivity rates exceeded 30%. An increase in activity was observed in Central America and the Caribbean, Western and Eastern Africa, as well as in Western and South-East Asia.
In regions with elevated influenza activity, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was the predominant strain in Central America and the Caribbean, and Eastern and Middle Africa. Influenza A(H3N2) was the main circulating subtype in Western, Southern, and South-East Asia and Oceania. 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