Syndromic surveillance summary: 1 February 2026 week 5
Updated 5 February 2026
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Reporting week 5: 26 January 2026 to 1 February 2026
During week 5, acute respiratory infection indicators were broadly stable or decreasing overall. However, in selected systems there were continued small increases in activity observed in children aged under 15 years. GP in-hours consultations for upper respiratory tract infections increased in children, but also younger adults aged 15 to 44 years. Indicators for eye problems and conjunctivitis increased in young children in line with seasonally expected activity. There were increases in diarrhoea and vomiting indicators during week 5, with activity generally remaining above levels expected for the time of year.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 5, NHS 111 triaged calls and online assessments for acute respiratory infections were stable and below seasonally expected levels. There were small increases observed in calls and online assessments for diarrhoea and vomiting, which remained above expected levels. Calls and online assessments for eye problems also increased, with increased calls mainly seen in children aged under 5 years.
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GP in-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 5, the GP in-hours consultation rate for upper respiratory tract infections increased particularly among children aged under 15 years, but also in adults aged 15 to 44 years. Lower respiratory tract infections decreased overall but there were continued increases in children aged 15 years. There was an increase in conjunctivitis consultations, particularly in children aged 1 to 4 years however this was within seasonal expectations. Consultations for diarrhoea and vomiting increased during week 5 and remain above seasonally expected levels.
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GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 5, GP out-of-hours daily contacts for acute respiratory infections continued to decrease, particularly in children aged under 15 years. Influenza-like illness contacts continued to decrease and are at expected levels. Contacts for gastroenteritis, including diarrhoea and vomiting increased during week 5 and activity remained above expected levels.
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Emergency department (ED) syndromic surveillance system
During week 5, ED attendances for acute respiratory infections (ARI) remained stable and at seasonally expected levels. Recent observed increases in ARI attendances in children aged under 15 years stabilised during the reporting week. Attendances for influenza-like illness continued to decrease nationally and across all regions and age groups and are now below seasonally expected levels. There was a slight increase in COVID-19-like attendances, however the number of attendances was small and at similar levels to those seen at the same time last year.
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Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 5, daily ambulance dispatch calls for difficulty breathing decreased but remained above expected levels. Calls for ‘impact of heat or cold’ and injuries remained stable. Calls for headache and ‘overdose or ingestion or poisoning’ increased in line with seasonally expected trends.