Research and analysis

Laboratory reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 5 to 8, 2016

Updated 6 January 2017

Data are recorded by week of report, but include only specimens taken in the last eight weeks (ie recent specimens).

1. Table 1. Reports of influenza infection made to CIDSC, by week of report

Week Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Total
Week ending 7/2/2016 14/2/2016 21/2/2016 28/2/2016  
Influenza A 562 506 630 737 2435
Isolation 38 44 44 55 181
DIF * 27 59 34 57 177
PCR 437 342 505 512 1796
Other † 60 61 47 113 281
Influenza B 57 56 54 98 265
Isolation 1 4 2 8 15
DIF * 5 11 2 13 31
PCR 47 34 47 67 195
Other † 4 7 3 10 24

* DIF = Direct Immunofluorescence.

† Other = “Antibody detection - single high titre” or “Method not specified”.

2. Table 2. Respiratory viral detections by any method (culture, direct immunofluorescence, PCR, four-fold rise in paired sera, single high serology titre, genomic, electron microscopy, other method, other method unknown), by week of report

Week Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Total
Week ending 7/2/2016 14/2/2016 21/2/2016 28/2/2016  
Adenovirus* 79 103 118 112 412
Coronavirus 97 130 130 132 489
Parainfluenza† 46 71 43 36 196
Rhinovirus 257 290 240 210 997
RSV 266 202 151 152 771

* Respiratory samples only.

† Includes parainfluenza types 1, 2, 3, 4 and untyped.

3. Table 3. Respiratory viral detections by age group: weeks 5 to 8, 2016

Age group (years) <1 year 1-4 years 5-14 years 15-44 years 45-64 years ≥65 years Unknown Total
Adenovirus * 71 110 35 110 56 26 4 412
Coronavirus 78 75 35 92 74 135 489
Influenza A 161 390 155 811 797 556 4 2874
Influenza B 17 18 39 135 34 53 6 302
Parainfluenza † 52 43 16 26 35 25 197
Respiratory syncytial virus 232 109 34 128 128 133 7 771
Rhinovirus 319 233 74 127 115 127 2 997

* Respiratory samples only.

† Includes parainfluenza types 1, 2, 3, 4 and untyped.

4. Table 4. Laboratory reports of infections associated with atypical pneumonia, by week of report

Week Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Total
Week ending 7/2/2016 14/2/2016 21/2/2016 28/2/2016  
Coxiella burnettii 1 1
Respiratory Chlamydia sp.* 3 1 3 2 9
Mycoplasma pneumoniae 33 26 34 15 108
Legionella sp. 4 4 3 11

* Includes Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia sp detected from blood, serum, and respiratory specimens.

5. Table 5. Laboratory reports of Legionnaires Disease cases in England and Wales, by week of report

Week Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Total
Week ending 7/2/2016 14/2/2016 21/2/2016 28/2/2016  
Nosocomial 1 1
Community 2 3 2 7
Travel abroad 2 2
Travel UK 1 1
Total 4 4 3 11
Male 3 3 2 8
Female 1 1 1 3

Eleven cases were reported with pneumonia. Eight males aged 50-70 years and three females aged 46-75 years. Seven cases had community-acquired infection and one case was reported to be associated with a hospital/healthcare facility. Two deaths were reported in three males aged 57 and 70 years.

Three cases were reported with travel association: Mauritius (1), Thailand (1) and United Kingdom (1).

6. Table 6. Laboratory reports of Legionnaires Disease cases in England and Wales, by PHE Centre: weeks 5 to 8, 2016

Region/Country Nosocomial Community Travel Abroad Travel UK Total
North of England          
North East 0
Cheshire & Merseyside 1 1
Greater Manchester 0
Cumbria & Lancashire 0
Yorkshire & the Humber 0
South of England          
Devon, Cornwall & Somerset 0
Avon, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire 0
Wessex 1 1
Thames Valley 0
Sussex, Surrey & Kent 1 1
Midlands & East of England          
East Midlands 2 2
South Midlands & Hertfordshire 0
Anglia & Essex 1 1
West Midlands 1 1 2
London Integrated Region          
London 1 2 3
Public Health Wales          
Mid & West Wales 0
North Wales 0
South East Wales 0
Miscellaneous          
Other 0
Not known 0
Total 1 7 2 1 11

This report was published in Health Protection Report volume 10 issue 9.