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Weekly Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infection Report

 

  Current
level of activity
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Influenza

Baseline levels

Decreasing Influenza circulation has returned to baseline levels. GP consultations for influenza-like illness and confirmed case numbers have decreased in the current week, as has test positivity.
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

Please note, the weekly report is now on a fortnightly reporting schedule until September.

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 24 2025 

Internal NHS users: Weekly acute respiratory infection summary: Week 24 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 24, 2025 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 1.0 consultations per 100,000 practice population.
  • The rate decreased compared to week 23, 2025 (0.5 consultations per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update 

  • A total of 149 surveillance samples were collected from patients presenting with ILI symptoms by sentinel GPs and community pharmacies during Week 24. Among these, the following pathogens were identified: 23 cases of rhinovirus, 10 cases of parainfluenza, seven cases of C. pneumonia, five cases of 5 cases human metapneumovirus, three cases of adenovirus, two cases of influenza A,  and two cases of SARS-CoV-2. Data are current as of 18/06/2025.
  • During week 24, 701 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, three 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 remains 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, RSV or SARS-CoV-2 positive test result in the community (or up to two days post-admission) were four, one and 28 respectively for during week 24.
  • For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

 

In the UK and Europe
  • As of Week 20, GP ILI consultations increased to 1.7 per 100,000 in England (latest data available) decreased to 1.3 per 100,000 in Northern Ireland in week 22, and increased to 2.4 per 100,000 in Scotland in week 23. 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
  • In the Northern hemisphere, influenza activity continued to decline or remained stable in most countries with increases reported in a few countries in Central America and the Caribbean. Elevated influenza positivity persisted in Central America and the Caribbean (predominantly A(H1N1)pdm09), Tropical South America, Western Africa (predominantly A(H1N1)pdm09), Western and Southern Asia (predominantly A(H3N2) and B viruses), and South-East Asia (predominantly A(H3N2)).
  • In the Southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained stable in most countries with increases reported in single countries in Temperate South America and Oceania. Elevated influenza positivity (>10%) was observed in Tropical and Temperate South America (predominantly A(H1N1)pdm09), Southern Africa (predominantly A(H3N2)), Eastern Africa (predominantly A(H1N1)pdm09), South-East Asia (predominantly A(H3N2)), and Oceania (predominantly A(H1N1)pdm09), with positivity exceeding 30% in several countries. See full WHO influenza update
COVID-19
 
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
     

Weekly Influenza Surveillance Reports for Wales

Reports Archive