Weekly Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infection Report

Summary of influenza epidemiology and vaccination uptake during the 2019/20 season in Wales: Annual Influenza in Wales reports
 

Weekly surveillance reports

Latest report: Public Health Wales Influenza Surveillance Report: Week 48 2021 

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 48 (week ending 05/12/2021) reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 2.7 consultations per 100,000 practice population, and remains below the Moving Epidemic Method (MEM) threshold for baseline activity (11.0 consultations per 100,000).
• The rate decreased compared to week 47 (2.8 consultations per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update 

• During week 48, 18 surveillance samples from patients with influenza-like illness were submitted by sentinel GPs for testing and tested as at 08/12/2021. One was positive for both influenza B and adenovirus, two for SARS-CoV2, one for human metapneumovirus, one for enterovirus, one for both SARS-CoV2 and a seasonal coronavirus, and 12 were negative for all routinely tested respiratory pathogens.
• During week 48, four of the 2,184 hospital and non-sentinel GP patients tested for respiratory infections by Public Health Wales Microbiology tested positive for influenza. A number of other causes of acute respiratory infection were identified.
   

In the UK and Europe

• As of week 47, influenza consultation rates remained stable in Northern Ireland and increased in Scotland and England, remaining below baseline levels in all countries. UK summary data is available from the Public Health England National Influenza Report.
• The WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) report that as at week 47, influenza activity was increasing throughout the WHO European Region. For more information on European level influenza surveillance see Flu News Europe
   

World Overview

• The WHO reported on 06/12/2021 that respiratory influenza activity remained at inter-seasonal levels in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere, both influenza A and B were detected. In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, influenza activity was reported at inter-seasonal levels, with the exception of South Africa where increased out of season influenza activity was reported. 
• 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

• As at 07/12/2021, WHO reported 265,713,467 confirmed COVID-19 cases globally, with 5,260,888 deaths reported. Daily WHO situation updates are available here

MERS-CoV and H7N9 Updates

• On 17/08/2021 WHO reported four additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), including one associated death. Globally, 2,578 laboratory confirmed cases of human infection with MERS-CoV, including 888 associated deaths, have officially been reported to WHO since 2012.
• The latest WHO Influenza at Human-Animal Interface summary (22/05/2021 to 22/06/2021) reports that no new cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) was reported. 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
   

Weekly Influenza Surveillance Reports for Wales

Reports Archive