National Flu And Covid-19 Surveillance Reports Published

27th October 2022

Weekly national influenza and coronavirus (COVID-19) report, COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses.

Flu surveillance up until end of week 42
Positivity for flu has continued to increase and is now at 5.2%. It is the highest in 5 to 14-year-olds at 12% followed by 15 to 44-year-olds at 9.6%.

Hospitalisation rates for flu are highest in those aged 0 to 4 at 3.19 followed by those aged 85+ at 2.48 per 100,000.

Vaccine uptake for flu compared to the previous 2021 to 2022 season is comparable for 65-year-olds and over, currently 59%. For those under 65 years in clinical risk groups, 25.7% and for pregnant women 17.9%, but lower in 2 and 3 years old, 16% and 17.1%.

Dr Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said:

Hospital admission rates for flu have increased in recent weeks and remain highest in those under 5. Already this year a small number of young children have needed intensive care. Please book your pre-schooler in for flu vaccine at your GP surgery as soon as you can.

Flu nasal spray vaccine is also currently being offered to all primary school children and will be available for some secondary school years later this season.

RSV and other respiratory virus surveillance up until end of week 42
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) swab positivity increased to 6.5% in week 42, with the highest positivity in children under 5, at 23.4%.

Dr Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist for UKHSA, said, "
RSV levels are rising in young children as we head into winter. For children under 2 RSV can be severe - particularly for babies and those born prematurely, with a heart condition or chronic lung disease.

If you are ill, avoid visiting babies. Smoking around babies also increases their risk of severe RSV infection. If you are worried your infant has cold symptoms causing any unusual breathing or difficulty feeding, please seek advice from 111 or your GP. If your child seems seriously unwell, trust your judgement and get emergency care.