Research and analysis

Reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 36 to 39, 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 36 Week 37 Week 38 Week 39 Total
Week ending 8/9/2019 15/9/2019 22/9/2019 29/9/2019  
Influenza A 45 37 43 62 187
Isolation 1 2 2 5
DIF * 1 1 2
PCR 37 33 37 53 160
Other † 6 4 4 6 20
Influenza B 9 10 7 8 34
Isolation 0
DIF * 1 1
PCR 7 9 5 7 28
Other † 2 1 1 1 5

* 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 8/9/2019 15/9/2019 22/9/2019 29/9/2019  
Adenovirus* 51 63 62 56 232
Coronavirus 6 5 7 10 28
Parainfluenza† 82 79 114 126 401
Rhinovirus 145 211 364 511 1231
RSV 19 22 28 50 119

* Respiratory samples only.

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

Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 36 to 39, 2019

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 30 65 31 63 32 11 232
Coronavirus 2 6 2 9 4 5 28
Influenza A 4 10 2 61 47 57 181
Influenza B 1 1 6 22 7 4 41
Parainfluenza † 62 103 39 50 63 84 401
Respiratory syncytial virus 52 31 7 9 5 13 2 119
Rhinovirus 268 262 124 221 158 198 1231

* 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 8/9/2019 15/9/2019 22/9/2019 29/9/2019  
Coxiella burnetii 3 1 4
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 18 16 10 2 46
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 18 21 17 19 75

* 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 the UK weekly flu reports (2018 to 2019 season).

This report was published on 7 October 2019.