Weekly Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infection Report

	Current level of activity	Trend	News
Influenza	Medium levels	Decreasing	The peak of the influenza season may have passed within the previous two weeks, however cases remain elevated and there remains potential for further increases in influenza B cases.
RSV	Low intensity levels	Decreasing	The RSV season has peaked and is now decreasing, with activity in children now at ‘low’ intensity.
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

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 04 2025

Internal NHS users: Weekly acute respiratory infection summary: Week 04 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 04, 2025 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 22.1 consultations per 100,000 practice population.
The rate decreased compared to week 03, 2025 (30.5 consultations per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update

A total of 453 surveillance samples were collected from patients presenting with ILI symptoms by sentinel GPs and community pharmacies during Week 04. Among these, the following pathogens were identified: 78 cases of influenza A, 59 cases of rhinovirus, 37 cases of human metapneumovirus, 31 cases of seasonal coronaviruses, 16 cases of influenza B, 15 cases of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), three cases of parainfluenza, three cases of mycoplasma, three cases of enterovirus, and three cases of bocavirus. Data are current as of 29/01/2025
During week 04, 1,193 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, 129 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 is at low 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 110, 31 and 12 respectively for during week 034.
For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

In the UK and Europe

As of Week 3, GP ILI consultations decreased to 17.0 per 100,000 in England, decreased in Northern Ireland to 28.5 per 100,000 and increased to 27.8 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 the 23/01/2025, based on data up the 12/01/2025 that in the Northern hemisphere, influenza activity remained elevated with increasing trends in Europe (predominantly A(H1N1)pdm09) and Asia (predominantly A(H1N1)pdm09). North America reported elevated levels (A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) co-circulating), along with Central America and Caribbean (mainly A(H3N2)), Western Africa (predominantly B viruses), and Northern Africa (mainly A(H3N2)). Northern and Eastern Europe and Central Asia showed declining trends.
In the Southern hemisphere, elevated activity was observed in parts of Tropical South America (A(H3N2) and B viruses co-circulating), Eastern Africa (mainly B viruses), and Melanesia (predominantly A(H1N1)pdm09). While single countries in Eastern and Southern Africa reported increases, other reporting countries showed stable or declining activity 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