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 | North East Post A Voice of the Free Press |
4:38 PM 8th February 2024
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Flu And COVID-19 Surveillance Report Published - 8 February 2024
Photo by CDC on Unsplash
Flu surveillance data for week 5
Influenza activity showed a mixed picture, increasing in some indicators but decreasing in others.
Influenza positivity decreased to 14.3% in week 5 compared to 17.4% 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 decreased slightly to 9.6 per 100,000 in week 5 compared to 9.8 per 100,000 in the previous week and remained within the baseline activity level range.
The total number of confirmed influenza acute respiratory incidents decreased slightly compared to the previous week, with 59 incidents reported in England during week 5.
Overall, influenza hospitalisations decreased slightly to 7.27 per 100,000 in week 5 compared to 7.43 per 100,000 in the previous week and remained in the medium impact range.
ICU or HDU admissions rate decreased compared to the previous week and remained in the low impact range, while emergency department (ED) attendances for ILI continued to increase in adults over 65 years old.
COVID-19 surveillance data for week 5
COVID-19 activity decreased across most indicators.
SARS-CoV-2 positivity decreased to 7.1% in week 5 compared to 8.0% 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.
COVID-19 case rates and positivity in Pillar 1 decreased overall and within some age groups, regions, and ethnic groups in week 5.
Overall, COVID-19 hospitalisations decreased to 4.1 per 100,000 in week 5 compared to 5.0 per 100,000 in the previous week.
COVID-19 ICU admissions remained low and stable at 0.14 per 100,000 in week 5.
The highest hospital admission rate is currently in South West England at 5.73 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 decreased to 45.03 per 100,000. Most other age groups saw a decrease.
A total of 7,858,122 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:
"It’s encouraging to see signs of a decrease for COVID-19 activity. However an increase in emergency department attendances for flu-like-illness in those over age 65 shows that flu is still circulating in those who could be more vulnerable to severe illness, despite other indicators showing a decline.
"A free flu vaccine is still available from your GP or local pharmacy until the end of March, so there is still time to get vaccinated. You are eligible if you are over 65, a child aged 2 or 3, have a specific long-term health condition, are pregnant, work in healthcare, or care for others.
"Allowing fresh air in when meeting others indoors, practising regular handwashing, and covering coughs and sneezes helps reduce the spread of respiratory infections such as flu and COVID-19. If you are showing symptoms of a respiratory illness, try to limit your contact with others, especially those more vulnerable, and consider wearing a mask if you do need to go out."
"It’s encouraging to see signs of a decrease for COVID-19 activity. However an increase in emergency department attendances for flu-like-illness in those over age 65 shows that flu is still circulating in those who could be more vulnerable to severe illness, despite other indicators showing a decline.
"A free flu vaccine is still available from your GP or local pharmacy until the end of March, so there is still time to get vaccinated. You are eligible if you are over 65, a child aged 2 or 3, have a specific long-term health condition, are pregnant, work in healthcare, or care for others.
"Allowing fresh air in when meeting others indoors, practising regular handwashing, and covering coughs and sneezes helps reduce the spread of respiratory infections such as flu and COVID-19. If you are showing symptoms of a respiratory illness, try to limit your contact with others, especially those more vulnerable, and consider wearing a mask if you do need to go out."
Norovirus surveillance data for week 4
Norovirus laboratory reports in weeks 3 and 4 of 2024 were 83% 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 highest 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 3 and 4 of 2024 remained 17% lower than the 5-season average for the same 2-week period. The majority of outbreaks were reported in care home settings, but the outbreaks reported in hospital settings have also been increasing in recent weeks.
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.
Dr Lesley Larkin, Interim Deputy Director, Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety (One Health) Division at UKHSA said:
"The latest data show a notable increase in norovirus reports and reports of 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 invulnerable 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 reports of 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 invulnerable 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 5
Overall RSV activity continues to decrease
The overall positivity (among people with symptoms tested at sentinel ‘spotter’ laboratories) decreased to 1.4%, with the highest positivity in those aged under 5 years at 2.6%.