Research and analysis

Reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 3 to 6, 2020

Updated 3 March 2021

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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 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Total
Week ending 19/1/2020 26/1/2020 2/2/2020 9/2/2020  
Influenza A 1494 735 569 470 3268
Isolation 112 34 29 21 196
DIF * 116 95 86 66 363
PCR 1146 525 391 326 2388
Other † 120 81 63 57 321
Influenza B 182 114 162 153 611
Isolation 4 3 5 4 16
DIF * 16 7 24 14 61
PCR 138 83 109 109 439
Other † 24 21 24 26 95

* 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, single high serology titre, genomic), by week of report

Week Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Total
Week ending 19/1/2020 26/1/2020 2/2/2020 9/2/2020  
Adenovirus* 143 156 119 152 570
Coronavirus 152 133 98 173 556
Parainfluenza† 136 106 72 59 373
Rhinovirus 336 347 445 384 1512
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) 873 590 446 337 2246

* Respiratory samples only. † Includes parainfluenza types 1, 2, 3, 4 and untyped.

Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 3 to 6, 2019

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 95 216 66 96 54 43 – 570
Coronavirus 62 111 39 80 85 179 – 556
Influenza A 95 302 163 803 597 1055 24 3039
Influenza B 26 77 99 329 49 69 – 649
Parainfluenza † 49 71 22 40 69 121 1 373
Respiratory syncytial virus 651 227 46 152 312 856 2 2246
Rhinovirus 324 364 143 203 178 300 – 1512

* 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 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Total
Week ending 19/1/2020 26/1/2020 2/2/2020 9/2/2020  
Coxiella burnettii 1 – – – 1
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 9 1 2 4 16
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 47 41 32 36 156

* 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: 2020.

Routine national (UK) influenza reports

Read the UK influenza reports (2019 to 2020 season).

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