All regions of England have been at Cold Weather Alert Level 1 ‘winter preparedness and action’ since 1 November 2013. Indicators of influenza activity remain at low levels of intensity with evidence of sporadic detections of influenza. Respiratory Syncytial Virus ( RSV ) appears to be declining. Syndromic surveillance has nothing new to report. Outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting in hospitals are being reported however norovirus activity is low. The number of laboratory reports of norovirus in the season to date is lower than the five year seasonal average (covering winter seasons from 2007 to 2012). Rotavirus activity is low, laboratory reports are at the expected level for the time of year. Due to the bank holidays, there is no update for excess mortality estimates in recent weeks. No significant excess all-cause mortality was reported across the UK from week 40 2013 to week 50 2013 (9 December to 15 December).

Public Health
England

Research and analysis

Winter health watch summary: 9 January 2014

Q: 4. Planning resources

Cold weather plan 2013 Flu plan: Winter 2013 to 2014 by DH , NHS England and PHE

Published 9 January 2014

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1. Summary

All regions of England have been at Cold Weather Alert Level 1 ‘winter preparedness and action’ since 1 November 2013.
Indicators of influenza activity remain at low levels of intensity with evidence of sporadic detections of influenza. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) appears to be declining.
Syndromic surveillance has nothing new to report.
Outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting in hospitals are being reported however norovirus activity is low. The number of laboratory reports of norovirus in the season to date is lower than the five year seasonal average (covering winter seasons from 2007 to 2012).
Rotavirus activity is low, laboratory reports are at the expected level for the time of year.
Due to the bank holidays, there is no update for excess mortality estimates in recent weeks. No significant excess all-cause mortality was reported across the UK from week 40 2013 to week 50 2013 (9 December to 15 December).