Research and analysis

Laboratory reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 36 to 39, 2018

Updated 4 January 2019

Data are recorded by week of report, but include only specimens taken in the last 8 weeks (recent specimens).

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

Week Week 36 Week 37 Week 38 Week 39 Total
Week ending 9/9/2018 16/9/2018 23/9/2018 30/9/2018  
Influenza A 28 34 13 12 87
Isolation 3 2 1 6
DIF * 1 1
PCR 25 29 13 9 76
Other † 2 2 4
Influenza B 8 3 7 3 21
Isolation 1 1
DIF * 1 1
PCR 7 3 6 3 19
Other † 0

* DIF = Direct Immunofluorescence.

† Other = ‘Antibody detection - single high titre’ or ‘Method not specified’.

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 36 Week 37 Week 38 Week 39 Total
Week ending 9/9/2018 16/9/2018 23/9/2018 30/9/2018  
Adenovirus* 29 26 24 32 111
Coronavirus 6 4 4 6 20
Parainfluenza† 45 59 44 64 212
Rhinovirus 182 209 317 351 1059
RSV 39 38 35 50 162

* Respiratory samples only.

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

Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 36 to 39, 2018

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 22 29 9 31 12 8 111  
Coronavirus 2 2 1 4 7 4 20  
Influenza A 1 6 5 40 19 14 85  
Influenza B 2 4 6 5 5 22  
Parainfluenza † 32 42 13 38 47 40 212  
Respiratory syncytial virus 79 57 2 7 10 7 162  
Rhinovirus 238 200 107 208 156 150 1059  

* Respiratory samples only.

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

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

Week Week 36 Week 37 Week 38 Week 39 Total
Week ending 9/9/2018 16/9/2018 23/9/2018 30/9/2018  
Coxiella burnettii 1 1
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 5 16 4 2 27
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 4 5 4 3 16

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

Legionnaires Disease cases in England and Wales

Latest reports of Legionnaires’ Disease are published at Legionnaires’ disease monthly surveillance reports: 2018.

Routine national (UK) influenza reports

UK influenza reports are published (by season) at Weekly National Flu Reports collection.

This report was published in Health Protection Report volume 12 issue 36.