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 25 November to 1 December (ISO week 48): 

• Calls to NHS24 for respiratory symptoms remain lower than in previous years. Attendances to GP practices for influenza-like illness rose slightly, whist acute respiratory infections showed a steeper increase in the most recent week. Both indicators are showing levels that are typical for this time in the season. 
• Circulation of influenza is increasing, now reaching a moderate level of activity in Scotland. Between weeks 47 and 48, influenza A laboratory-confirmed cases nearly doubled, from 224 to 417. Test positivity increased to 9.5% compared with 5.1% in week 47, with the largest increases seen in the 1-4 and 15-44 age groups. Positivity also increased in the community (CARI) surveillance system, increasing by proportion more notably in adult age groups than children. Influenza related hospital admissions have also increased this week although there is no evidence of an increase rise in admission to critical care.  
• RSV laboratory-confirmed cases appeared to decline in week 48 to moderate activity levels compared to the extraordinary levels detected in week 47 (from 440 to 342 cases.) Extraordinary levels of activity are still being observed in those ages 1-4 years. In the CARI system, RSV continues to make up the highest proportion of positive results in the 0-4 age group whilst also increasing in all age groups. RSV related admissions to hospital have decreased since week 47. 
• Indicators of COVID-19 transmission continue to decrease across all systems.
• Since the start of the winter 2024/25 influenza and COVID-19 vaccination programme in Scotland, uptake was highest in older care home residents (influenza: 79.4%; COVID-19: 77.5%), and among adults aged 75 years and older (influenza: 74.6%; and COVID-19: 71.4%). There is lower uptake when compared to the corresponding week in last year’s programme for most priority groups except those receiving an influenza vaccine aged 65 to 74 years or those with a weakened immune system. 

Further information

The next release will be 12 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