HPS Weekly National Seasonal Respiratory Report - week ending 1 March 2020

Overall assessment:

• Influenza activity is showing signs of decreasing with almost all indicators suggesting falling activity. There remains evidence of circulation of influenza within the community and closed settings. A CMO letter was issued in week 49 advising that GPs may prescribe antivirals.
• A Scottish addendum to the Public Health England guidance on use of antiviral agents for the treatment and prophylaxis of seasonal influenza has been published on the HPS website.

In week 9:

• The rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) was at Baseline activity level (6.9 per 100,000).
• The proportion of NHS24 respiratory calls was at Low activity level (20.9%).
• The swab positivity of influenza in primary care was at Baseline activity level (0%, 0/9).
• The swab positivity of influenza in secondary care was at Low activity level (8.2%, 90/1,102).
• The incidence rate of influenza in secondary care was at Baseline activity level (1.7 per 100,000 population).
• The number of new acute respiratory illness outbreaks with onset in week 9 was at Baseline activity level (n=0).
• The number of new SARI cases admitted to ICU during week 9 was at Baseline activity level (n=1).
• There were no new SARI deaths reported. The SARI case-fatality rate (CFR) reported since week 40 2019 was 16.4% (12/73) and remains below expected seasonal levels (range 22.9% - 35.6%).
• The all-cause mortality excess for "all ages" was at Baseline activity level in week 7.