Influenza-Positive Samples Undetected in England

This report issued by the UK government issued on July 22, 2021, summarises the information from the surveillance systems which are used to monitor influenza and other seasonal respiratory viruses in England. The report is based on data from week #28.

Through Respiratory Datamart, there were no influenza-positive samples detected in week #28 in England between July 12 up to July 20th.

And other indicators for influenza such as hospital admissions and GP Influenza-like Illness (ILI) consultation rates remain low.

Rhinovirus activity decreased slightly to 10.2%, and adenovirus and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) positivity remained low at 1.1% and 0.7%, respectively, with arainfluenza positivity decreasing from 8.7% to 7.0% in week #28.

However, Respiratory Syncytial Virus positivity increased from 6.8% to 8.9%.

Additionally, FluSurvey, a web tool survey designed to monitor trends of ILI in the UK's community using self-reported respiratory symptoms from registered participants.

A total of 2,693 participants completed the weekly survey in week #28, of which (2.7%) reported fever or cough and (0.8% reported ILI. The most commonly used healthcare service reported by FluSurvey respondents remains telehealth, a GP practice in England.

Note: On June 10, 2021, the U.S. CDC published a Health Advisory to notify clinicians and caregivers about increased interseasonal RSV activity across parts of the Southern United States. Due to this increased activity, CDC encourages broader testing for RSV among patients presenting with acute respiratory illness who test negative for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. RSV can be associated with severe disease in young children and older adults.