Weekly national seasonal respiratory report
Week 29 2021

About this release

This release is a weekly report on epidemiological information on seasonal influenza activity in Scotland. Due to COVID health care services are functioning differently now compared to previous flu seasons so the consultation rates are not directly comparable to historical data.

Main points

• All data sources including ECOSS (Electronic Communication of Surveillance in Scotland) and GP consultations for influenza-like illness (ILI) indicate that there is no influenza activity in Scotland in week 29.
• The low numbers of influenza may be related to current SARS-CoV-2 interventions combined with the traditional low transmission of influenza during the summer months. However, data are provisional and may be subject to change.
• The proportion of total NHS24 calls for respiratory symptoms remained at Baseline (<16.8%) activity level. NHS24 calls for respiratory symptoms are highest for those aged 1-4 years and remained at Moderate (50-60.9%) activity level, while all other age groups were at Baseline activity level.
• Parainfluenza remained at Low activity level. This is following an increase to Extraordinary activity observed between weeks 20 and 26. All other non-flu pathogens were at Baseline activity level.

Background

Surveillance of influenza infection is a key public health activity as it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality during the winter months, particularly in those at risk of complications of flu e.g. the elderly, those with chronic health problems and pregnant women.

The spectrum of influenza illness varies from asymptomatic illness to mild/moderate symptoms to severe complications including death. In light of the spectrum of influenza illness there is a need to have individual surveillance components which provide information on each aspect of the illness.

There is no single flu surveillance component that can describe the onset, severity and impact of influenza or the success of its control measures each season across a community. To do so requires a number of complementary surveillance components which are either specific to influenza or its control, or which are derived from data streams providing information of utility for other PHS specialities (corporate surveillance data). Together, the influenza surveillance components provide a comprehensive and coherent picture on a timely basis throughout the flu season. Please see the influenza page on the HPS website (external website) for more details.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be 4 August 2021.