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 parainfluenza 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 29 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 2.2 consultations per 100,000 practice population.
The rate decreased compared to week 28 (3.1 consultations per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update

80 surveillance samples from patients with ILI symptoms collected by sentinel GPs and community pharmacies during Week 29. Of the 80 samples reported in Week 29, 12 tested positive for rhinovirus, nine for SARS-CoV-2, four for mycoplasma, four for parainfluenza, two for enterovirus, one for RSV, one for adenovirus, one for human metapneumovirus, one for C. pneumoniae and one for coronaviruses as at 23/07/2024.
During week 29, 1,221 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, six 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 two and two respectively during Week 27, and 124 for SARS-CoV-2 during week 28.
For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

As of week 27, influenza consultations increased to 2.9 per 100,000 in England and to 2.0 per 100,000 in Scotland in week 28. 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 10% positivity epidemic threshold.
For more information on European level influenza surveillance see European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS)

The WHO reported on 17/07/2024, based on data up to 07/07/2024 that in the Northern hemisphere elevated activity continued to be reported in countries in Central America and the Caribbean (A(H3)viruses), Western Africa (A(H3) and B viruses), Southern Asia (A(H3) and A(H1N1) viruses), and South East Asia (A(H1N1) viruses). Activity in temperate countries remains low at interepidemic levels.
In the Southern hemisphere, influenza activity continues to be elevated in countries in several countries in South America (A(H3) viruses), in some countries in Eastern Africa (A(H1N1) and B viruses), Southern Africa (A(H1N1) and B viruses), and Oceania (A(H1N1) and A(H3) viruses). Activity in South America and Southern Africa decreased while increasing in some countries in Eastern Africa and Oceania.
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