Weekly Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infection Report

	Current level of activity	Trend	News
Influenza	Medium levels	Increasing	The flu season is increasing and yet to peak. Influenza A(H1) currently accounts for the highest proportion of confirmed cases, with lower-level co-circulation of influenza A(H3) and influenza B.
RSV	High intensity levels	Decreasing	The RSV season has peaked and is now decreasing, although levels remain high
COVID-19	*	Decreasing	Broadly stable and at lower levels

* 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: Weekly acute respiratory infection summary: Week 51 2024

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 51 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 33.1 consultations per 100,000 practice population.
The rate increased compared to week 50 (21.4 consultations per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update

341 surveillance samples from patients with ILI symptoms collected by sentinel GPs and community pharmacies during Week 51. Of the 341 samples, 132 tested positive influenza A, 42 for rhinovirus, 32 for RSV, 15 for human metapneumovirus, 10 for enterovirus, 12 for parainfluenza, 9 for seasonal coronaviruses, 7 for mycoplasma, six for influenza B, 6 for SARS-CoV-2, 5 for bocavirus, 3 for adenovirus, and 2 for C.pneumoniae as at 24/12/2024.
During week 51, 1,805 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, 539 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 decreased and remains at very high 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 198, 98 and 44 respectively for during week 51.
For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

In the UK and Europe

As of Week 50, GP ILI consultations increased to 12.1 per 100,00 in England, in Northern Ireland to 21.2 per 100,000 and to 21.0 per 100,000 in Scotland 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

The WHO reported on 18/12/2024, based on data up to 08/12/2024 that in the Northern hemisphere influenza activity in temperate countries remained at interepidemic levels. Elevated activity was observed in parts of Northern Europe (mostly A(H1N1)pdm09 detected), Eastern Europe, Central America and the Caribbean (mostly A(H3N2)), Western Africa (mostly A(H3N2) and B), Middle Africa (mostly A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2)), Western Asia (due to co-circulation of influenza viruses), Southern Asia (mostly A(H1N1)pdm09) and South East Asia (mostly A(H1N1)pdm09 and B).
In the Southern hemisphere, influenza activity was elevated in single countries in Tropical South America (due mostly to B viruses) and Eastern Africa (due mostly to B viruses) 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

WHO was notified of one new MERS cases on 5 September 2024 by the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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