Weekly Influenza and Acute Respiratory Infection Report

	Current level of activity	Trend	News
Influenza	Returning to low levels	Decreasing	Evidence from surveillance suggests that influenza is still circulating in the community in Wales. Current activity levels are returning to low levels.
RSV	Circulating, medium intensity levels	Decreasing	Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) confirmed case incidence in children <5y of age suggests that the RSV season is still underway, but activity is decreasing. Currently activity is at medium intensity levels.
COVID-19	Low levels	Broadly Stable	COVID-19 case numbers remain stable

* 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 2026

Internal NHS users: Weekly acute respiratory infection summary: Week 04 2026

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 4, 2026 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 0.5 consultations per 100,000 practice population.
The rate decreased compared to week 3 2026 (2.9 consultations per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update

A total of 127 surveillance samples were collected from patients presenting with ILI symptoms by sentinel GP's and community pharmacies during Week 04, 2026. Among these, the following pathogens were identified: 13 cases of seasonal coronaviruses, 12 cases of rhinovirus, 10 cases of influenza A, 10 cases of RSV, six cases of human metapneumovirus, three cases of enterovirus, two cases of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), one case of mycoplasma and one case of bocavirus. Data are current as at 28/01/2026.
During week 04, 4,452 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, 65 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 in week 04 and remains at medium intensity levels.

Hospitalisations in confirmed cases of influenza and RSV

The 7-day rolling sums of cases hospitalised within 28 days of a positive test for SARS-CoV-2, influenza and RSV positive test result in the community (or up to two days post-admission) were 21, 49 and 68 respectively for during week 04.
For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

In the UK and Europe

GP ILI consultations decreased to 12.4 per 100,000 in England, decreased to 16.0 per 100,000 in Northern Ireland, and decreased to 8.8 per 100,000 in Scotland in Week 3, 2026. 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

Globally, influenza detections continue to decline. Influenza A viruses were predominant among influenza detections in Week 3.
Northern hemisphere: Influenza percent positivity was elevated (>10%) in countries in North America and Western and Middle Africa, Southern and South-East Asia. Percent positivity was over 30% in countries in Central America and the Caribbean, Tropical South America, Northern Africa, Europe, and Western and Eastern Asia. Increases in activity were observed in countries in Central America and the Caribbean, South West and Eastern Europe, and Western Asia.
Southern hemisphere: Influenza activity remained low overall although elevated positivity (>10%) was reported in single countries in Tropical and Temperate South America, South-East Asia and Oceania; percent positivity was over 30% in one country in Eastern Africa. Small increases in activity were observed in two countries in Temperate South America and one country in Oceania.
Virus predominance: Among zones with elevated positivity, A(H3N2) was predominant except in Tropical South America, where there was codominance of A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2). 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