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 2 December to 8 December (ISO week 49): 

• Attendances to GP practices for influenza-like illness rose sharply this week, although they remain at a level not unusual for this time in the season. Calls to NHS24 for respiratory symptoms increased to similar levels as last year, but still lower than previous years.
• Levels of influenza continue to rise sharply this week, although they remain at moderate levels by comparison to previous years. There were 730 laboratory-confirmed cases in week 49 (compared to 475 last week and 225 the week before). Test positivity increased in the community (CARI) surveillance system to 23.9% (15.3% last week), with a proportional increase in adult age groups more so than children. Influenza related hospital admissions increased this week, with no increases in intensive care admissions from influenza. Hospital admissions due to influenza have surpassed those due to RSV.
• RSV incidence has been at extraordinary levels for this and the previous 2 weeks, by comparison to previous years. Younger ages are more affected than older with extraordinary incidence in 5-14 age group, and high in those aged <1, 1-4 and 15-44. RSV test positivity in the CARI system remains high compared to previous years. RSV related admissions to hospital have remained relatively stable, but high.
• Indicators of COVID-19 transmission are low across primary and secondary healthcare and the wastewater surveillance systems.
• Influenza and COVID-19 vaccine uptake is currently highest in older care home residents and 75+ age group. Over two thirds of those at-risk for influenza and 4 in 5 people at-risk for COVID-19 have not yet been vaccinated. Vaccine uptake is lower for both influenza and COVID-19 in several eligible groups when compared to the corresponding week in last year’s programme.

Further information

The next release will be 19 December 2024.

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