Viral respiratory diseases (including influenza and COVID-19) in Scotland surveillance report

About this release

This weekly release by Public Health Scotland presents epidemiological information on respiratory infection activity, including COVID-19, across Scotland. Due to the dynamic nature of all datasets included in this report, figures contained within each update may be subject to change in future releases. Any revised figures will then be reflected within the latest update.

Main points

Overall assessment 11 March to 17 March (ISO week 11):

• Respiratory symptoms in the community measured via calls to NHS24 remained at Baseline activity level. Attendances at GP consultations for influenza-like-illness (GP ILI) also remained at Baseline activity level.

• In the CARI community surveillance system, rhinovirus remained the most frequently detected pathogen at 17.5% swab positivity (up from 15.7% the previous week). Swab positivity increased slightly for influenza B (to 4.7% from 2.8%) and decreased for seasonal coronavirus (at 7.8% from 11.4%) and parainfluenza (at 8.4% from 9.6%). All other pathogens remained stable. Mycoplasma pneumoniae continues to affect younger age groups at higher levels than others.

• Virology data showed influenza remained at Moderate activity level in week 11, with a small but increasing proportion (4.9%) of all cases detected as Type B. All age groups have remained at Low or Moderate activity level. Mycoplasma pneumoniae decreased from Extraordinary to High activity level. Human metapneumovirus increased from Moderate to High activity level while seasonal coronavirus (non-COVID-19) decreased from Moderate to Low activity level.

• All-cause excess mortality for week 8 (week ending 25 February 2024, the latest week not impacted by reporting delays) remained at Baseline activity level overall and for all age groups.

Background

Tracking infectious respiratory diseases, including COVID-19 and influenza, is essential, especially in the winter when the disease burden can be highest. In Scotland, respiratory infection and associated morbidity are monitored using enhanced surveillance. This approach combines data from microbiological sampling and laboratory test results from community and hospital settings with data from syndromic surveillance of NHS 24 calls, primary care consultations for respiratory symptoms, hospital (including intensive care) admissions and other settings.

The intelligence generated from surveillance of laboratory, syndromic and community settings provide a comprehensive picture of current respiratory illness in Scotland. The data presented in this report provide a comprehensive and timely epidemiological picture that is essential for understanding transmission of infection and supporting patient care and NHS service planning and policy.

Seasonality patterns / seasonal variations

Respiratory illnesses are associated with seasonal increase in the autumn and winter. Seasonality patterns for both influenza viruses and non-influenza respiratory pathogens have been established through many years of surveillance data. Most influenza and non-influenza pathogens circulate in the autumn and winter in Scotland, although some are known to circulate in the spring and summer. Notably, COVID-19 transmission has been occurring in waves throughout the year as observed from surveillance data since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be 18 April 2024. Unless conditions warrant, reporting will become monthly from this week (week 11) through to the start of the winter season (week 40). Selected weekly figures and data from this report are still available through week 20 via the COVID-19 & Respiratory Surveillance in Scotland interactive dashboard. Between weeks’ 20 and 40, reporting via the dashboard will also switch to monthly. Updates to both the report and the dashboard will resume on a weekly basis in week 40.

Find out more

Previous Publications

Versions of the Weekly national respiratory report publication released before 30 November 2022 may be found on the Public Health Scotland website.

Versions of the COVID-19 weekly statistical report publication released before 30 November 2022 may be found on the Public Health Scotland website.

Open data

Open data from this publication is available from the following weblinks:

• Viral respiratory diseases Open Data platform
• Flu and COVID vaccination uptake Open Data platform

Further data

• The COVID-19 Vaccine Wastage datafile was updated on 18 April 2024 to include the most recent information.
• The COVID-19 in Adult Care Homes in Scotland datafile was updated on 27 July 2023 to include more recent information.
• 28 September 2022 COVID-19 statistical report publication contains information on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy in Scotland.
• 2 March 2022 COVID-19 statistical report publication contains information on Highest Risk (shielding patients list)
• 7 November 2023 Community Acute Respiratory Infection (CARI) surveillance in primary care contains information on flu Vaccine effectiveness in community settings.
• 25 May 2023 Interim 2022/23 influenza vaccine effectiveness: six European studies, October 2022 to January 2023, contains information on flu Vaccine effectiveness in hospital settings.
• 13 January 2024 Estimated number of lives directly saved by COVID-19 vaccination programs in the WHO European Region, December 2020 to March 2023, contains information on lives saved due to COVID-19 vaccination