Syndromic surveillance summary: 28 December 2025 week 52
Updated 2 January 2026
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Reporting week 51: 15 to 21 December 2025
During week 52 there were continued decreases observed in syndromic indicators for acute respiratory infections (ARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI). ARI and ILI activity decreased across all age groups. There were also further decreases in acute bronchitis or bronchiolitis indicators reported in the ED and GP in hours and out-of-hours systems. There was an increase in ED GP in hours pneumonia indicators, particularly in adults aged 45 years and over. Note: week 52 includes 2 public holidays when access to health services can change. Data and trends presented in the syndromic bulletins for week 52 should therefore be interpreted with some caution.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 52, NHS 111 total triaged calls and total online assessments increased sharply as expected during the extended public holiday weekend, peaking on 27 December. Calls and assessments for acute respiratory infections decreased during the reporting week, however activity increased, as expected, over the holiday weekend. Similarly, diarrhoea calls and assessments remained stable overall and at expected levels, but also with an increase in activity observed over the long weekend.
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GP in-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 52, GP in hours consultation rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) decreased nationally but remained above seasonally expected levels; decreases in ILI were observed across all age groups. Consultation rates for upper and lower respiratory tract infections were stable overall and similar to or below seasonally expected levels; in general, there were decreases in age groups up to 44 years but continued increases in older age groups 45 years and over. Pneumonia attendances increased particularly in the 65 years and over age group. Bronchiolitis consultations decreased in both the under 1 year and 1 to 4 year age groups during week 52.
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GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 52, GP out-of-hours daily contacts for acute respiratory infections remained stable overall but with an increase in contacts observed in adults over the long public holiday weekend, particularly those aged 45 years and older. Contacts for influenza-like illness were also stable nationally while daily contacts for acute bronchitis continued to decrease in children aged 1 to 4 years.
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Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 52 there was a further decrease in attendances for acute respiratory infections (ARI) nationally across all age groups except adults aged over 45 years. There was also a further decrease in influenza-like illness (ILI) attendances, with decreases across all age groups. Pneumonia attendances increased, particularly in the age groups 45 years and over, but overall attendances remained below seasonally expected levels. ‘Acute bronchiolitis or bronchitis’ decreased overall during week 52, however there was an increase in attendances in the less than 1 year age group over the weekend of 27 and 28 December.
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Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 52, daily ambulance dispatch calls for difficulty breathing continued to decrease, consistent with seasonal expectations. Daily numbers of ambulance dispatch calls for ‘unconscious or passing out’, allergic reactions and ‘overdose or ingestion or poisoning’ decreased.