Research and analysis

Reports of respiratory infections made to UKHSA from UKHSA and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 33 to 37, 2023

Published 16 October 2023

Applies to England and Wales

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A. Weekly national influenza and COVID-19 surveillance reports

Read the latest weekly National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report: 12 October 2023 (week 41).

B. Laboratory-confirmed, non-COVID-19 respiratory infections

Table B1. Reports of influenza infection made to UKHSA Colindale, by week of report

Week Week 33 Week 34 Week 35 Week 36 Week 37 Total
Week ending 20 August 28 August 3 September 10 September 17 September  
Influenza A 45 40 50 69 72 276
Isolation 1 5 6 3 4 19
DIF 1 1 3 2 2 9
PCR 42 33 40 62 63 240
Other 1 1 1 2 3 8
Influenza B 10 19 9 22 18 78
Isolation  – 4 1 3 1 9
DIF 1 – 1 2 2 6
PCR 9 15 7 17 14 62
Other – – – – 1 1

DIF = Direct Immunofluorescence.

‘Other’ = ‘Antibody detection - Single high titre’ or ‘method not specified.’

Note: data is recorded by week of report, but include only specimens taken in the previous 8 weeks (recent specimens).

Table B2. Respiratory viral detections by any method (culture, direct immunofluorescence, PCR, 4-fold rise in paired sera, single high serology titre, genomic, electron microscopy, other method, other method unknown), by week of report

Week Week 33 Week 34 Week 35 Week 36 Week 37 Total
Week ending 20 August 28 August 3 September 10 September 17 September  
Adenovirus* 77 66 67 71 85 366
Coronavirus** 8 12 6 9 14 49
Parainfluenza† 164 142 94 77 82 559
Rhinovirus 409 365 317 335 419 1845
RSV 78 73 95 110 159 515

* Respiratory samples only.

** Seasonal coronavirus only. Does not include SARS-CoV-2.

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

Table B3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 33 to 35, 2023

Age group (years) <1 year 1 to 4 years 5 to 14 years 15 to 44 years 45 to 64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 86 169 31 39 22 19 – 366
Coronavirus ** 6 4 2 14 11 12 – 49
Influenza A 8 19 19 84 65 97 5 297
Influenza B 4 13 4 38 17 9 4 84
Parainfluenza † 92 97 29 58 79 204 4 559
Respiratory syncytial virus 191 215 9 29 27 40 4 515
Rhinovirus 390 560 169 211 182 345 – 1845

* Respiratory samples only.

** Seasonal coronavirus only. Does not include SARS-CoV-2.

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

Table B4. Laboratory reports of infections associated with atypical pneumonia, by week of report

Week Week 33 Week 34 Week 35 Week 36 Week 37 Total
Week ending 20 August 28 August 3 September 10 September 17 September  
Coxiella burnettii – – – – – 0
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* – – – – 2 2
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 8 16 13 21 19 77

* Includes Chlamydia Psittaci, Chlamydia Pneumoniae, and Chlamydia sp detected from blood, serum, and respiratory specimens.

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