Syndromic surveillance summary: 7 December 2025 week 49
Updated 18 December 2025
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Reporting week 49: 1 to 7 December 2025
During week 49 there were further increases in acute respiratory infection indicators across syndromic systems, although within the remote health advice (NHS 111) and emergency department (ED) systems, acute respiratory infections (ARI) increases appeared to be stabilising in children aged 5 to 14 years. Influenza-like illness (ILI) indicators also continued to increase during week 49, with activity remaining above seasonally expected levels; however, ED ILI attendances decreased slightly in children 5 to 14 years during the reporting week. Acute bronchiolitis indicators increased slightly in children aged less than 5 years during week 49 but activity remained below levels expected for the time of year.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 49, daily NHS 111 triaged calls and online assessments for acute respiratory infections continued to increase nationally, however the rate of increase was less than that seen in the previous week and levels appeared to be stabilising in children aged 1 to 14 years. There were further seasonally expected increases in triaged calls for vomiting, though call levels were stable for children aged 1 to 14 years.
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GP in-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 49 there were continued increases in GP in-hours consultation rates for both upper and lower respiratory tract infections across all age groups. Consultation rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) continued to increase, with rates overall remaining above expected levels for the time of year. Consultations for vomiting continued to increase, particularly in children aged 1 to 4 and 5 to 14 years. Consultation rates for pneumonia increased but remained in line with levels expected for the time of year.
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GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 49, GP out-of-hours daily contacts for acute respiratory infections stabilised nationally and across all age groups except in children aged under 1 year and adults 45 to 64 years, where further increases were observed. Daily contacts for influenza-like illness also stabilised nationally, though there was a further increase in ILI contacts in the 15 to 44 years age group. Daily acute bronchitis or bronchiolitis contacts increased notably in the under 1 year age group, but remained below seasonally expected levels nationally.
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Emergency department syndromic surveillance system
During week 49, acute respiratory infection continued to increase nationally and remained above seasonally expected levels, however the increase was less steep than seen in previous weeks and there was a slight decrease in children aged 5 to 14 years. Attendances for influenza-like illness also continued to increase nationally and remained above seasonally expected levels, though daily attendances were stable in children aged 5 to 14 years. Attendances for ‘acute bronchiolitis or bronchitis’ increased slightly during week 49 but remained below seasonally expected levels. Attendances for pneumonia increased but remained in line with levels expected for the time of year.
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Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 49, daily ambulance dispatch calls for ‘difficulty breathing’ continued to increase as expected at the time of year. Calls for ‘chest pain’ also increased, though ambulance calls for ‘cardiac or respiratory arrest’ were stable.