Research and analysis

Reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 49/2019 to 2/2020

Updated 29 January 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/respiratory-infections-laboratory-reports-2019/reports-of-respiratory-infections-made-to-phe-from-phe-and-nhs-laboratories-in-england-and-wales-weeks-49-2019-to-02-2020-to-48-2019

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

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

Week Week 49 Week 50 Week 51 Week 52 Week 1/20 Week 2/20 Total
Week ending 8/12/2019 15/12/2019 22/12/2019 29/12/2019 6/1/2020 12/1/2020  
Influenza A 1766 2663 3590 3236 2968 2733 16956
Isolation 168 275 412 141 126 867 1989
DIF 127 207 307 382 374 208 1605
PCR 1253 1835 2443 2267 2065 1393 11256
Other † 218 346 428 446 403 265 2106
Influenza B 62 103 129 127 152 170 743
Isolation 5 1 3 – – 22 31
DIF 5 7 9 13 18 13 65
PCR 41 74 94 78 93 106 486
Other † 11 21 23 36 41 29 161

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 49 Week 50 Week 51 Week 52 Week 1/20 Week 2/20 Total
Week ending 8/12/2019 15/12/2019 22/12/2019 29/12/2019 6/1/2020 12/1/2020    
Adenovirus* 134 112 122 104 110 204 786  
Coronavirus 23 27 48 68 78 94 338  
Parainfluenza† 208 204 196 150 153 162 1073  
Rhinovirus 477 492 526 326 356 532 2709  
RSV 1679 1822 2043 1636 1820 1386 10386  

* Respiratory samples only.

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

Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 49/2019, to 2/2020

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 149 283 100 128 72 54 – 786
Coronavirus 57 62 27 34 43 114 1 338
Influenza A 691 1947 1737 4436 3134 7139 128 19212
Influenza B 36 117 123 352 73 110 – 811
Parainfluenza † 168 184 91 127 158 345 – 1073
Respiratory syncytial virus 4093 1786 305 587 1019 2594 2 10386
Rhinovirus 556 444 183 401 412 711 2 2709

* 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 49 Week 50 Week 51 Week 52 Week 1/20 Week 2/20 Total
Week ending 8/12/2019 15/12/2019 22/12/2019 29/12/2019 6/1/2020 12/1/2020  
Coxiella burnettii – – – – – – –
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 5 3 3 – 1 6 18
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 29 29 23 13 12 35 141

* 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 Legionnaires’ disease monthly surveillance reports: 2019.

This report was published in Health Protection Report volume 14 issue 2.

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