Research and analysis

Reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 14 to 17, 2019

Updated 29 January 2020

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 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17 Total
Week ending 7/4/2019 14/4/2019 21/4/2019 28/4/2019  
Influenza A 568 603 438 393 2002
Isolation 50 71 36 26 183
DIF * 39 51 25 20 135
PCR 430 423 329 316 1498
Other † 49 58 48 31 186
Influenza B 20 12 9 15 56
Isolation 1 1 2
DIF * 3 5 3 4 15
PCR 13 6 6 11 36
Other † 3 3

* 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 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17 Total
Week ending 7/4/2019 14/4/2019 21/4/2019 28/4/2019    
Adenovirus* 128 166 118 164 576  
Coronavirus 41 80 30 50 201  
Parainfluenza† 250 299 242 292 1083  
Rhinovirus 394 457 291 343 1485  
RSV 36 27 25 19 107  

* Respiratory samples only.

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

Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 14 to 17, 2019

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 111 213 55 123 41 33 576
Coronavirus 24 28 13 29 27 80 201
Influenza A 54 113 98 391 332 1029 1 2018
Influenza B 1 3 2 26 10 15 57
Parainfluenza † 192 182 62 110 199 338 1083
Respiratory syncytial virus 34 16 4 12 18 23 107
Rhinovirus 349 312 112 246 184 282 1485

* 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 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17 Total
Week ending 7/4/2019 14/4/2019 21/4/2019 28/4/2019  
Coxiella burnettii 1 1
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 22 12 4 38
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 13 12 21 11 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 first published on 1 March 2019.