Research and analysis

Reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 1 to 4, 2019

Updated 29 January 2020

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

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

Week Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Total
Week ending 6/1/2019 13/1/2019 20/1/2019 27/1/2019  
Influenza A 1851 2465 2466 2586 9368
Isolation 271 331 309 293 1204
DIF * 202 147 145 177 671
PCR 1203 1753 1786 1892 6634
Other † 175 234 226 224 859
Influenza B 27 38 29 31 125
Isolation 1 2 1 2 6
DIF * 4 12 15 17 48
PCR 21 24 13 12 70
Other † 1 1

* 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 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Total
Week ending 6/1/2019 13/1/2019 20/1/2019 27/1/2019  
Adenovirus* 104 111 98 98 411
Coronavirus 135 115 175 115 540
Parainfluenza† 133 169 152 119 573
Rhinovirus 450 412 340 330 1532
RSV 827 708 499 362 2396

* Respiratory samples only.

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

Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 1 to 4, 2019

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 72 134 33 91 47 34 0 411
Coronavirus 85 77 33 72 106 167 540
Influenza A 303 954 437 2567 2685 2997 5 9948
Influenza B 3 13 1 26 37 46 1 127
Parainfluenza † 100 121 15 58 102 177 0 573
Respiratory syncytial virus 757 156 47 172 358 906 2396
Rhinovirus 279 211 72 250 250 470 1532

* 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 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Total
Week ending 6/1/2019 13/1/2019 20/1/2019 27/1/2019  
Coxiella burnettii 1 4 5
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 10 8 10 2 30
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 15 25 11 6 57

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

Legionnaires Disease cases in England and Wales

Read the latest reports on Legionnaires’ Disease data at: Legionnaires’ disease monthly surveillance reports: 2019.

Routine national (UK) influenza reports

Read UK influenza reports (2018 to 2019 season) at Weekly national flu reports.

This report was published on 1 February 2019.