search
date/time
 | North East Post Weekend Edition |
5:46 PM 1st February 2024
scitech
Flu And COVID-19 Surveillance Report Published - 1 February 2024
Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash
Flu surveillance data for week 4
Influenza activity increased across most indicators.
Influenza positivity increased to 16.6% in week 4 compared to 14.0% in the previous week. This is based on a percentage of people who test positive among those with symptoms tested at sentinel “spotter” laboratories, reported through the Respiratory DataMart surveillance system.
Through primary care surveillance, the influenza-like-illness (ILI) consultations indicator increased to 9.8 per 100,000 in week 4 compared to 7.5 per 100,000 in the previous week and remained within the baseline activity level range.
The total number of confirmed influenza acute respiratory incidents in week 4 increased compared to the previous week, with 69 incidents reported in England during week 4.
Influenza hospitalisations increased to 7.63 per 100,000 in week 4 compared to 5.12 per 100,000 in the previous week and remained in the medium impact range.
ICU or HDU admissions rate increased compared to the previous week and crossed into the low impact range, while emergency department (ED) attendances for ILI increased nationally.
The provisional proportion of people in England who have received the 2023 to 2024 influenza vaccine in targeted groups is as follows:
77.6% in all aged 65 years and over; vaccine uptake is lower compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
44.2% in all those aged 3 years, which is comparable compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
43.7% in all those aged 2 years, which is higher compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
41.0% in those aged under 65 years in a clinical risk group, which is lower compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
31.7% in all pregnant women, which is lower compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
77.6% in all aged 65 years and over; vaccine uptake is lower compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
44.2% in all those aged 3 years, which is comparable compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
43.7% in all those aged 2 years, which is higher compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
41.0% in those aged under 65 years in a clinical risk group, which is lower compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
31.7% in all pregnant women, which is lower compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
COVID-19 surveillance data for week 4
COVID-19 activity was mostly stable with increases in some indicators.
SARS-CoV-2 positivity decreased slightly to 8.3% in week 4 compared to 8.8% in the previous week. This is based on a percentage of people who test positive among those with symptoms tested at sentinel “spotter” laboratories, reported through the Respiratory DataMart surveillance system.
COVID-19 case rates and positivity in Pillar 1 has decreased overall and in some age groups, regions, and ethnic groups in week 4.
COVID-19 hospitalisations increased marginally to 5.0 per 100,000 in week 4 compared to 4.8 per 100,000 in the previous week.
COVID-19 ICU admissions remained stable at 0.15 per 100,000 in week 4.
The highest hospital admission rate is currently in South West England at 7.57 per 100,000. Throughout the regions, there was a mixed picture in hospital admission rates.
Among age groups, those aged 85 years and over had the highest hospital admission rate, which increased to 58.60 per 100,000. Most other age groups remained stable.
A total of 7,855,284 people aged 65 years and over in England have been vaccinated with an autumn 2023 COVID-19 vaccine dose since 1 September 2023, totalling 70.4% of that population.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes at UKHSA, said:
"Flu cases and hospitalisations continue to increase, following a decrease over the festive period. COVID-19 activity remains mostly stable.
"There are simple steps can take to reduce the spread of respiratory infections like flu and COVID-19. Let fresh air in when meeting others indoors, wash your hands and cover your coughs and sneezes. If you are showing symptoms of a respiratory illness, try to reduce your contact with others, particularly those who are more vulnerable, and consider wearing a mask if you do need to go out.
"You can still get a free flu vaccine from your GP or local pharmacy if you are over 65, have certain long-term health conditions, are pregnant or are a health worker or carer. Children aged 2 or 3 years can receive a quick and painless nasal spray flu vaccine from their GP to help protect them against flu. While the flu vaccine offer is open until the end of March, it is best to get protected as soon as possible."
"Flu cases and hospitalisations continue to increase, following a decrease over the festive period. COVID-19 activity remains mostly stable.
"There are simple steps can take to reduce the spread of respiratory infections like flu and COVID-19. Let fresh air in when meeting others indoors, wash your hands and cover your coughs and sneezes. If you are showing symptoms of a respiratory illness, try to reduce your contact with others, particularly those who are more vulnerable, and consider wearing a mask if you do need to go out.
"You can still get a free flu vaccine from your GP or local pharmacy if you are over 65, have certain long-term health conditions, are pregnant or are a health worker or carer. Children aged 2 or 3 years can receive a quick and painless nasal spray flu vaccine from their GP to help protect them against flu. While the flu vaccine offer is open until the end of March, it is best to get protected as soon as possible."
Norovirus surveillance data for week 3
Norovirus laboratory reports in weeks 2 and 3 of 2024 were 64% higher than the 5-season average for the same period 2-week period, but within the overall historical range reported in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic. Reporting remains high in adults aged 65 and older.
While reports of enteric virus (EV) outbreaks have been increasing, the total number of EV outbreaks reported during weeks 2 and 3 of 2024 remained lower than the 5-season average for the same 2-week period. The majority of outbreaks were reported in care home settings, but the number reported in hospital settings has increased during this 2-week period.
The timing of the peak of norovirus activity varies from one season to the next and this season the increase in reporting following Christmas has begun earlier compared to the 5-seasons from which the average is calculated.
Please note the 5-season average is calculated from the same time period in the following seasons which excludes the COVID-19 pandemic period: 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2022/2023.
Amy Douglas, Norovirus Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:
"The latest data show a notable increase in norovirus reports and outbreaks in hospital settings are rising.
"Norovirus symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea but can also include a high temperature, abdominal pain and aching limbs. Norovirus could cause dehydration, especially in vulnerable groups such as young children and older or immunocompromised people, so if you do get ill it is important to drink plenty of fluids during that time.
"If you have got diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing the infection on. Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others in that time either. If you are unwell, avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to prevent passing on the infection in these settings.
"Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will also help stop infections from spreading. Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus so don’t rely on these alone."
"The latest data show a notable increase in norovirus reports and outbreaks in hospital settings are rising.
"Norovirus symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea but can also include a high temperature, abdominal pain and aching limbs. Norovirus could cause dehydration, especially in vulnerable groups such as young children and older or immunocompromised people, so if you do get ill it is important to drink plenty of fluids during that time.
"If you have got diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing the infection on. Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others in that time either. If you are unwell, avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to prevent passing on the infection in these settings.
"Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will also help stop infections from spreading. Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus so don’t rely on these alone."
RSV surveillance data for week 4
Overall RSV activity continues to decrease.
The overall positivity (among people with symptoms tested at sentinel ‘spotter’ laboratories) decreased to 1.8%, with the highest positivity in adults older than 65 years of age at 2.5%.