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.

Between 24 April and 9 October 2025, PHS are reducing the frequency of the Viral respiratory diseases (including influenza and COVID-19) in Scotland narrative report to monthly. PHS will move to weekly dashboard only updates for respiratory infection and COVID-19 surveillance. This approach aligns to the pre-pandemic one for respiratory pathogens, which typically follow a seasonal pattern. PHS will continue to monitor COVID-19 and other respiratory infection levels and reinstate the weekly narrative report before 9 October 2025 if necessary.

Main Points

Overall assessment 24 March 2025 to 30 March 2025 (ISO week 13): 

• Syndromic indicators for respiratory infections in the community and in GP practices all remain at baseline.
• The overall number of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases (routine community and hospital settings) decreased below the threshold for low activity, though remains at a higher test positivity (6.6%) than the same week in previous seasons. Although the number of influenza B cases has declined for several weeks now, these cases still account for the majority of laboratory influenza detections (57%). In the CARI community system, influenza A positivity decreased (to 5.6% from 7.4%) while influenza B positivity remained stable this week (at 14.9% from 14.4%).
• RSV infections remain low and stable across all surveillance systems.
• COVID-19 signals continue to remain low and consistent across all surveillance systems.
• All-cause excess mortality for week 10 (the latest week not impacted by reporting delays) was at baseline overall and across age groups.
• The winter 2024/25 vaccination programme administered a total of 1,296,906 (Adult 18+) and 534,706 (Children 6 months to 17 years) influenza and 1,106,787 COVID-19 vaccines (all eligible populations). Uptake was lower for influenza and COVID-19 vaccines compared to winter 2023/24 for all eligible groups amongst adults. However, influenza vaccine uptake was higher in three of the four eligible childhood groups (6 Months to 2 Years at-risk, preschool and secondary) when compared to last year. 

Further information

The next release will be 10 April 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