Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report

About this release

As part of Public Health Scotland’s commitment to providing clear, concise and accessible viral respiratory data, there have been some improvements to the presentation this season’s viral respiratory report. These have included updates to the accessibility of figures presented in the report and a change in the title of the report from Viral respiratory diseases (including influenza and COVID-19) in Scotland surveillance report to Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report.

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

For the period, 17 November 2025 to 23 November 2025 (ISO week 47): 

• Calls to NHS24 for respiratory symptoms increased to a low level in week 47. Although overall rate of GP consultations for influenza-like illness (ILI) have decreased to a baseline level, they remain at medium levels for the 5-14 year-old age group. Consultations rates for acute respiratory infections (ARI) excluding influenza-like illness remain at baseline activity overall.
• Influenza levels continued to rise in Scotland in week 47, with a sharp rise in laboratory-confirmed cases (from 555 to 805) and hospital admissions (279 to 391), and higher test positivity (from 11.0% to 15.8%). All age groups are now affected at levels not previously seen this time of year. In the CARI primary care surveillance system, nearly one quarter (22.8%) of ARI consultations were for influenza A. Most infections are due to the influenza A(H3N2) strain.
• Laboratory-confirmed RSV activity remained low and relatively stable in week 47. Test positivity was highest in the under 1 (28.9%) and 1-4 age groups (21.7%) although overall positivity is lower than in the previous season at 5.8%. Test positivity in CARI primary care increased to 13.5% (from 7%). Hospital admissions due to RSV increased to 138 (from 118).  
• COVID-19 activity decreased or remained stable overall, across all system measures, in week 47. There were 60 hospital admissions due to COVID-19 (decreased from 79).  
• Of other respiratory pathogens, activity remained low across all systems for adenovirus, parainfluenza and rhinovirus. CARI data indicated a significant decrease to 30.1% (from 34.5%) in the average rhinovirus test positivity during the most recent 4-week period compared with the preceding 4 weeks.

Further information

The next release will be on 4 December 2025.

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