Current level of activity	Trend	News
Influenza	Out of season	Decreasing	Influenza circulation is at out of season levels.
RSV	Baseline	Decreasing	Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is at baseline 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 16 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 16, 2026 reported through the GP Sentinel Surveillance of Infections Scheme was 1.2 consultations per 100,000 practice population.
• The rate decreased compared to Week 15 2026 (5.8 per 100,000).

Virological surveillance update 

• A total of 68 surveillance samples were collected from patients presenting with ILI symptoms by sentinel GP's and community pharmacies during Week 16, 2026. Among these, the following pathogens were identified: seven cases of rhinovirus, five cases of parainfluenza and five cases of seasonal coronaviruses, as at 22/04/2026. 
• During Week 16, 952 hospital and non-sentinel GP patient samples underwent full respiratory screen multiplex testing by Public Health Wales Microbiology, of which, 11 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 16 and is at baseline 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 10, 2 and 2 respectively for during Week 16.
• For further information see the Public Health Wales Dashboard on hospital admissions in ARI cases

 

In the UK and Europe

• GP ILI consultations remained stable at 2.2 per 100,000 in England, decreased to 3.1 per 100,000 in Northern Ireland, and increased to 2.7 per 100,000 in Scotland in Week 15, 2026 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

• Globally, influenza detections continued to decline in Week 14, where Influenza B viruses were predominant.
•  Northern hemisphere: Influenza percent positivity was elevated (>10%) in North America, Eastern Africa, and countries in Southern, Eastern and South-East Asia. Small increases in activity occurred in single countries in Central America and the Caribbean, and single countries in Middle and Central Africa.
• Southern hemisphere: Influenza activity remained low overall. Elevated percent positivity (>10%) was reported in a few single countries in Temperate South America, Eastern and Southern Africa and South-East Asia. There were no countries reporting an increase in activity in Week 14. 
• Virus predominance: In zones with elevated positivity, A(H3N2) was predominant in Central America and the Caribbean, Tropical and Temperate South America, and Eastern Africa. Exceptions included Eastern Europe and Southern Africa where A(H1N1) was dominant; North America, Western Africa, and Eastern Asia, where influenza B was dominant; Southern and South-East Asia where influenza A and B were codominant. 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
   

Weekly Influenza Surveillance Reports for Wales

Reports Archive