Updates on flu, norovirus, and Covid in Wales as some say 'everyone's got a cold'

-Credit: (Image: Shared Content Unit)
-Credit: (Image: Shared Content Unit)


Schools went back at the start of the month after the summer holiday and this often leads to an increase in viruses spreading - particularly if the weather turns colder. While the weather has been pretty good this month there are increased reports of people with the usual symptoms of a sore throat, runny nose, a cough and a high temperature.

The common cold is still the most likely cause although the latest variant of Covid is causing a slight increase in cases. Flu is also about although still at low levels.

One person told North Wales Live that their local Tesco had run out of own brand paracetamol and ibuprofen on Friday evening. They added: "It feels like everyone has a cold right now."

We looked at the latest data from the Weekly Surveillance Report published by Welsh Government. It doesn't cover the common cold but does look at Covid, flu, whooping cough and RSV cases - as well as the dreaded winter vomiting bug norovirus.

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Covid:

Overall, COVID-19 infections have decreased in the most recent week but the weekly number of confirmed case admissions to hospital increased. As at 8th September 2024, 192 people currently in hospital have had a positive COVID-19test, with 5 currently in ICU. (compared to 194 and 4 in the previous week (week 35).

The all-Wales incidence as estimated using PCR episodes remained fairly stable at low levels. Between weeks 30 and 35, the Pango lineage was the most dominant variant in Wales, accounting for 77.2% of all sequenced cases.

Influenza/Flu

Current levels of influenza are low, and the current trend is stable. During week 36 (ending07/09/2024) there were 9 confirmed cases of influenza in Wales. 3 for influenza A(H3N2), 3 for influenza A(H1N1) and 3 influenza A (not subtyped). In recent weeks, detections of Rhinovirus and Adenovirus remain elevated.

There has been an increase in syndromic surveillance of influenza like illness (ILI) in recent weeks following a stable period.

Norovirus

In the current reporting week a total of 19 Norovirus confirmed cases were reported in Welsh residents. This is an increase (18.8%) in reported cases compared to the previous reporting week, where 16 Norovirus confirmed cases were reported. In the last 12 week period (17/06/2024 to 08/09/2024) a total of 365 Norovirus confirmed cases were reported in Welsh residents. This is an increase (135.5%) in reported cases compared to the same 12 week period in the previous year(17/06/2023 to 08/09/2023) where 155 Norovirus confirmed cases were reported.

Under-ascertainment is a recognised challenge in norovirus surveillance with sampling, testing and reporting known to vary by health board. In addition, only a small proportion of community cases are confirmed microbiologically.

RSV

RSV activity in children under 5 years has increased in the most recent week but remains at relatively low levels.

Whooping cough

Whooping cough has waves of increased infection every 3-4 years and in the last few months, notifications of whooping cough have risen sharply. Following reduced circulation in 2020-2022, this whooping cough season has seen notifications at levels not seen since 2012 and 2015.

But levels have been dropping steadily in recent weeks and health said lab confirmed cases were at "very low levels" over the past week.

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