Research and analysis

Laboratory reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 18 to 21, 2016

Updated 6 January 2017

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 CIDSC, by week of report

Week Week 18 Week 19 Week 20 Week 21 Total
Week ending 8/5/2016 15/5/2016 22/5/2016 29/5/2016  
Influenza A 150 60 32 31 273
Isolation 5 1 1 7
DIF * 15 6 5 2 28
PCR 118 46 18 24 206
Other † 12 7 8 5 32
Influenza B 213 106 57 61 437
Isolation 18 9 3 1 31
DIF * 29 14 5 1 49
PCR 156 78 44 52 330
Other † 10 5 5 7 27

* 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 18 Week 19 Week 20 Week 21 Total
Week ending 8/5/2016 15/5/2016 22/5/2016 29/5/2016  
Adenovirus* 108 146 111 88 453
Coronavirus 29 20 33 18 100
Parainfluenza† 113 138 155 135 541
Rhinovirus 251 391 274 225 1141
RSV 87 90 63 71 311

* Respiratory samples only.

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

3. Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 18 to 21, 2016

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 81 113 40 132 59 28 453
Coronavirus 15 14 6 16 17 32 100
Influenza A 6 10 6 56 55 51 184
Influenza B 19 53 39 157 68 108 444
Parainfluenza † 151 119 18 66 81 106 541
Respiratory syncytial virus 112 50 24 63 31 31 311
Rhinovirus 375 253 110 175 113 115 1141

* 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 18 Week 19 Week 20 Week 21 Total
Week ending 8/5/2016 15/5/2016 22/5/2016 29/5/2016  
Coxiella burnettii
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 1 1
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 18 10 9 37
Legionella sp. 2 7 7 16

* 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 18 Week 19 Week 20 Week 21 Total
Week ending 8/5/2016 15/5/2016 22/5/2016 29/5/2016  
Nosocomial 1 1
Community 3 5 8
Travel abroad 1 3 2 6
Travel UK 1 1
Total 2 7 7 16
Male 2 5 3 10
Female 2 4 6

Sixteen cases were reported with pneumonia. Ten males aged 48-81 years and six females aged 45-86 years. Eight cases had community-acquired infection and one case was reported to be associated with a hospital/healthcare facility.

Seven cases were reported with travel association: Barbados (1), China (1), Greece (1), India (1), Italy (1), United Arab Emirates (1) and United Kingdom (1).

6. Table 6. Laboratory reports of Legionnaires Disease cases in England and Wales, by PHE Centre: weeks 18 to 21, 2016

Region/Country Nosocomial Community Travel Abroad Travel UK Total
North of England          
North East 1 1
Cheshire & Merseyside 0
Greater Manchester 1 1
Cumbria & Lancashire 1 1
Yorkshire & the Humber 0
South of England          
Devon, Cornwall & Somerset 0
Avon, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire 1 1
Wessex 0
Thames Valley 2 2
Sussex, Surrey & Kent 0
Midlands & East of England          
East Midlands 1 1 1 3
South Midlands & Hertfordshire 1 1
Anglia & Essex 0
West Midlands 1 2 3
London Integrated Region          
London 0
Public Health Wales          
Mid & West Wales 1 1
North Wales 1 1
South East Wales 1 1
Miscellaneous          
Other 0
Not known 0
Total 1 8 6 1 16

This is an HPR Advance Access report published on 3 June 2016.