Research and analysis

Laboratory reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 48 to 52, 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. Reports of influenza infection made to PHE Colindale, by week of report

Week Week 48 Week 49 Week 50 Week 51 Week 52 Total
Week ending 3/12/2017 10/12/2017 17/12/2017 24/12/2017 31/12/2017  
Influenza A 109 175 200 472 575 1531
Isolation 21 36 23 34 50 164
DIF * 6 1 5 21 28 61
PCR 64 122 156 376 400 1118
Other † 18 16 16 41 97 188
Influenza B 33 72 161 486 786 1538
Isolation 4 1 15 36 75 131
DIF * 3 2 4 19 44 72
PCR 23 62 132 382 584 1183
Other † 3 7 10 49 83 152

* DIF = Direct Immunofluorescence.

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 48 Week 49 Week 50 Week 51 Week 52 Total
Week ending 3/12/2017 10/12/2017 17/12/2017 24/12/2017 31/12/2017  
Adenovirus* 82 135 105 119 76 517
Coronavirus 29 43 61 109 76 318
Parainfluenza† 135 174 120 125 84 638
Rhinovirus 435 600 396 402 272 2105
RSV 897 1207 966 831 549 4450

* Respiratory samples only.

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

3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 48 to 52, 2017

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 111 175 46 107 52 26 517
Coronavirus 89 61 33 34 34 66 1 318
Influenza A 54 111 62 361 348 823 1759
Influenza B 33 43 82 417 450 798 1823
Parainfluenza † 141 126 46 60 94 171 638
Respiratory syncytial virus 2613 667 100 212 286 568 4 4450
Rhinovirus 705 411 131 274 238 344 2 2105

* Respiratory samples only.

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

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

Week Week 48 Week 49 Week 50 Week 51 Week 52 Total
Week ending 3/12/2017 10/12/2017 17/12/2017 24/12/2017 31/12/2017  
Coxiella burnettii 4 7 2 1 14
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 7 10 11 2 30
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 15 24 15 11 8 73

* 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 are available at Legionnaires’ disease monthly surveillance reports: 2017.

This report was published in Health Protection Report volume 12 issue 1.