Winter health watch summary: 22 March 2018

Updated 29 March 2018

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/winter-health-watch-weekly-summaries-2017-to-2018/winter-health-watch-summary-22-march-2018

1. Summary

1.1 Cold alert

All regions are currently at level 1 (winter preparedness and action programme). Please see the Cold weather alerts webpage for up-to-date details.

Prior cold weather alerts have been in place this season from:

24 November to 2 December
7 December to 19 December
26 December to 29 December
6 January to 12 January
15 January to 21 January
31 January to 1 February
2 February to 8 February
9 February to 15 February
23 February to 7 March
16 March to 20 March

1.2 Flu

During week 11 (ending 18 March 2018), influenza continues to circulate but decreases are noted across most indicators. Influenza A and B are co-circulating. The Department of Health has issued an alert on the prescription of antiviral medicines by GPs.

1.3 Syndromic surveillance

There were further decreases in influenza indicators across all syndromic systems during week 11. GP consultations for scarlet fever remain above seasonally expected levels.

1.4 Norovirus

While the number of laboratory reports of norovirus in England and Wales received during reporting week 10 (261) was higher than the average for same week in the previous 5 seasons (224), the cumulative number of laboratory reports to week 10 (4,609) remains comparable to the average for the same period in the previous 5 seasons from season 2012 to 2013 to season 2016 to 2017 (4,661).

Reports of suspected and confirmed outbreaks of norovirus in hospitals in England are currently at lower levels than in previous years (2012 to 2017).

1.5 Rotavirus

Since week 27, 2017, there have been 894 laboratory reports of rotavirus in England and Wales. This is 53% lower than the average for 2013 to 2014 to 2016 to 2017 (1,919) (the period after vaccine was introduced).

Following the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine into the routine childhood immunisation schedule in July 2013, the total number of laboratory-confirmed rotavirus infections each season has remained low compared to the pre-vaccine period.

1.6 All-cause mortality

In week 11 2018, no statistically significant excess all-cause mortality by week of death was seen overall and by age group in England, through the EuroMOMO algorithm.

The contact details are:

East Midlands: FES.EM@phe.gov.uk

East of England: EFEU@phe.gov.uk

London: FES.SEaL@phe.gov.uk

North East: FES.NorthEast@phe.gov.uk

North West: FES.NorthWest@phe.gov.uk

South East: FES.SEaL@phe.gov.uk

South West: FES.SouthWest@phe.gov.uk

West Midlands: FES.WestMidlands@phe.gov.uk

Yorkshire and Humber: YHFES@phe.gov.uk