Research and analysis

Reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 40 to 43, 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 40 Week 41 Week 42 Week 43 Total
Week ending 6/10/2019 13/10/2019 20/10/2019 27/10/2019  
Influenza A 63 80 84 100 327
Isolation 2 16 18 1 37
DIF * 2 6 5 4 17
PCR 55 52 53 87 247
Other † 4 6 8 8 26
Influenza B 14 13 16 17 60
Isolation 3 2 5
DIF * 1 1 2
PCR 10 13 14 14 51
Other † 2 2

* 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 40 Week 41 Week 42 Week 43 Total
Week ending 6/10/2019 13/10/2019 20/10/2019 27/10/2019  
Adenovirus* 58 82 58 68 266
Coronavirus 6 8 7 8 29
Parainfluenza† 143 186 174 218 721
Rhinovirus 510 594 505 524 2133
RSV 47 89 102 230 468

* Respiratory samples only.

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

Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 40 to 43, 2019

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 48 94 31 64 18 11 266
Coronavirus 4 2 4 10 3 6 29
Influenza A 9 28 39 102 56 93 1 328
Influenza B 5 5 14 31 7 1 63
Parainfluenza † 123 171 82 81 97 167 721
Respiratory syncytial virus 236 149 13 23 15 31 1 468
Rhinovirus 353 323 142 468 361 486 2133

* 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 40 Week 41 Week 42 Week 43 Total
Week ending 6/10/2019 13/10/2019 20/10/2019 27/10/2019  
Coxiella burnetii 2 1 3
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 16 17 7 40
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 20 19 16 6 61

* 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 (2019 to 2020 season).

This report was published on 6 November 2019.