Research and analysis

Laboratory reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 18 to 21, 2017

Updated 5 January 2018

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 18 Week 19 Week 20 Week 21 Total
Week ending 7/5/2017 14/5/2017 20/5/2017 28/5/2017  
Influenza A 33 23 23 27 106
Isolation 8 3 4 1 16
DIF * 1 3 1 5
PCR 19 13 15 24 71
Other † 5 4 3 2 14
Influenza B 54 65 53 76 248
Isolation 2 3 2 8 15
DIF * 1 2 6 3 12
PCR 50 59 45 64 218
Other † 1 1 1 3

* 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 7/5/2017 14/5/2017 20/5/2017 28/5/2017  
Adenovirus* 122 104 92 91 409
Coronavirus 38 19 15 25 97
Parainfluenza† 159 103 101 150 513
Rhinovirus 242 190 215 264 911
Respiratory syncytial virus 46 65 66 54 231

* 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, 2017

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 55 102 43 122 58 29 409
Coronavirus 13 18 7 15 13 31 0 97
Influenza A 2 1 2 20 21 53 99
Influenza B 1 8 7 39 46 58 1 160
Parainfluenza † 65 54 21 95 98 179 1 513
Respiratory syncytial virus 70 32 20 30 30 48 1 231
Rhinovirus 246 188 101 143 118 114 1 911

* 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 7/5/2017 14/5/2017 20/5/2017 28/5/2017  
Coxiella burnettii 4 1 5
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 3 3 1 7
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 8 16 5 2 31

* Includes Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia sp detected from blood, serum, and respiratory specimens.

5. Legionnaires Disease cases in England and Wales

Monthly reports of Legionnaires’ Disease at Legionnaires’ disease monthly surveillance reports: 2017.

This report is published on 9 June 2017.