Research and analysis

Laboratory reports of respiratory infections made to PHE Colindale from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 45 to 48, 2015

Updated 12 January 2016

Data are recorded by week of report, but include only specimens taken in the last eight weeks (ie recent specimens).

1. Table 1. Reports of influenza infection made to PHE Colindale, by week of report

Week Week 45 Week 46 Week 47 Week 48 Total
Week ending 8/11/2015 15/11/2015 22/11/2015 29/11/2015  
INFLUENZA A 35 21 18 21 95
Isolation 3 2 5
DIF * 4 1 2 1 8
PCR 18 14 12 10 54
Other † 10 6 2 10 28
INFLUENZA B 13 11 4 11 39
Isolation
DIF * 1 1
PCR 8 9 4 9 30
Other † 5 1 2 8

* DIF = Direct Immunofluorescence.

† Other = “Antibody detection - single high titre” or “Method not specified”.

2. Table 2. Respiratory viral detections by any method (culture, direct immunofluorescence, PCR, four-fold rise in paired sera, single high serology titre, genomic, electron microscopy, other method, other method unknown), by week of report

Week Week 45 Week 46 Week 47 Week 48 Total
Week ending 8/11/2015 15/11/2015 22/11/2015 29/11/2015  
Adenovirus* 67 57 61 77 262
Coronavirus 5 7 13 10 35
Parainfluenza† 115 118 113 118 464
Rhinovirus 345 250 243 297 1135
RSV 307 445 657 753 2162

* Respiratory samples only

† Includes parainfluenza types 1, 2, 3, 4 and untyped.

3. Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 45 to 48, 2015

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 53 75 23 63 39 8 1 262
Coronavirus 9 10 1 7 5 3 35
Influenza A 6 11 8 33 26 12 1 97
Influenza B 3 8 2 10 5 4 1 33
Parainfluenza † 131 109 47 58 61 58 464
Respiratory syncytial virus 1421 479 35 75 73 73 6 2162
Rhinovirus 423 208 67 139 136 162 1135

* Respiratory samples only.

† Includes parainfluenza types 1, 2, 3, 4 and untyped.

4. Table 4. Laboratory reports of infections associated with atypical pneumonia, by week of report

Week Week 45 Week 46 Week 47 Week 48 Total
Week ending 8/11/2015 15/11/2015 22/11/2015 29/11/2015  
Coxiella burnettii
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 1 1 2
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 8 9 15 12 44
Legionella sp. 9 9 6 8 32

* Includes Chlamydia Psittaci, Chlamydia Pneumoniae, and Chlamydia sp detected from blood, serum, and respiratory specimens.

5. Table 5. Laboratory reports of Legionnaires Disease cases in England and Wales, by week of report

Week Week 45 Week 46 Week 47 Week 48 Total
Week ending 8/11/2015 15/11/2015 22/11/2015 29/11/2015  
Nosocomial 1 2 3
Community 4 2 3 9
Travel abroad 8 5 2 2 17
Travel UK 1 1 1 3
Total 9 9 6 8 32
Male 7 4 5 7 23
Female 2 5 1 1 9

Thirty-two cases were reported with pneumonia. Twenty-three males aged 36 - 89 years and nine females aged 41 - 89 years. Nine cases had community-acquired infection and three cases were reported to be associated with a hospital/healthcare facility. One death was reported in a male aged 87 years.

Twenty cases were reported with travel association: China (1), China/Thailand (1), Cruise/United Kingdom (1), Egypt (1), Italy (3), Italy/United Kingdom (1), Mexico/United States of America (1), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Spain (1), Spain/United Kingdom (1), Thailand (1), United Arab Emirates (2), United Arab Emirates/United Kingdom (1) and United Kingdom (3).

6. Table 6. Laboratory reports of Legionnaires Disease cases in England and Wales, by PHE Centre: weeks 45 to 48, 2015

Region/Country Nosocomial Community Travel Abroad Travel UK Total
North of England          
North East 1 1
Cheshire & Merseyside 1 1 2
Greater Manchester 0
Cumbria & Lancashire 1 1
Yorkshire & the Humber 0
South of England          
Devon, Cornwall & Somerset 2 2
Avon, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire 2 1 3
Wessex 1 1
Thames Valley 1 1
Sussex, Surrey & Kent 1 1 2 4
Midlands & East of England          
East Midlands 1 2 3
South Midlands & Hertfordshire 0
Anglia & Essex 0
West Midlands 1 1
London Integrated Region          
London 3 2 4 9
Public Health Wales          
Mid & West Wales 1 1
North Wales 0
South East Wales 1 1
Miscellaneous          
Other 2 2
Not known 0
Total 3 9 17 3 32

* Non-pneumonic case

This report was published in Health Protection Report volume 9 issue 43.