Research and analysis

Reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 5 to 8, 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 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Total
Week ending 3/2/2019 10/2/2019 17/2/2019 24/2/2019  
Influenza A 3227 3448 3354 2715 12744
Isolation 354 271 209 185 1019
DIF * 189 199 230 139 757
PCR 2450 2634 2567 2180 9831
Other † 234 344 348 211 1137
Influenza B 40 19 35 23 117
Isolation 1 1 2
DIF * 11 4 15
PCR 28 18 35 18 99
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 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Total
Week ending 3/2/2019 10/2/2019 17/2/2019 24/2/2019  
Adenovirus* 120 106 112 154 492
Coronavirus 201 187 111 191 690
Parainfluenza† 124 170 159 205 658
Rhinovirus 487 439 344 436 1706
RSV 306 232 179 159 876

* Respiratory samples only.

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

Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 5 to 8, 2019

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 88 217 53 68 43 23 492
Coronavirus 109 119 69 89 95 209 0 690
Influenza A 399 1459 692 3102 3171 4279 28 13130
Influenza B 5 14 6 37 32 27 0 121
Parainfluenza † 119 160 41 63 107 168 0 658
Respiratory syncytial virus 227 66 24 72 127 352 8 876
Rhinovirus 381 384 132 256 225 327 1 1706

* 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 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Total
Week ending 3/2/2019 10/2/2019 17/2/2019 24/2/2019  
Coxiella burnettii 0
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 15 11 8 34
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 23 15 11 8 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 March 2019.