Integrated Respiratory Virus Bulletin, Ireland
Week 40 2024 (29/09/2024 - 06/10/2024)
Report prepared on 10/10/2024.
About this report
This bulletin reports on the epidemiological situation of COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses (ORVs) in Ireland. It replaces previous reports in which COVID-19 data was published separately from data on influenza, RSV and ORVs. An integrated approach to both the surveillance and the reporting of respiratory viruses is recommended by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). HPSC and surveillance partners operate several integrated programmes which monitor cases of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and ORVs simultaneously. Integrated reporting will provide a more comprehensive picture of the overall impact of these viruses on the population and the health service.
The report is interactive. For graphs – data labels can be seen by hovering over graph lines or bars. Specific categories can be selected or deselected by clicking on the relevant category in the legend. Readers can skip to specific sections by clicking on the table of contents to the left of the screen.
This report will be published weekly during the winter season (week 40 to week 20). For some surveillance programmes, more detailed programme-specific reports will continue to be published. Links to these are available here.
1 Key messages
- During week 40 2024, COVID-19 activity was at moderate levels and continued to decline. Influenza and RSV activity increased slightly but remained stable overall, with low numbers of cases reported. Rhino and enteroviruses are circulating at high levels. Other seasonal respiratory viruses remain at low levels.
1.1 Summary for week 40 2024
Sentinel GP Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) consultation rate
- The sentinel GP Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) consultation rate has been increasing since week 31, primarily driven by increases in young children (aged less than five years). An ARI consultation rate of 59.5 /100,000 population was reported during week 40 2024. Sentinel percentage positivity for Rhino or Enterovirus has been above the 10% positivity threshold since week 35 2024. All other pathogens remain below the 10% positivity threshold.
COVID-19
- COVID-19 activity decreased during week 40. There were 407 cases of COVID-19 notified, a 25% decrease from the previous week. The number of COVID-19 hospitalisations decreased by 16% to 168 during week 40, and ICU admissions and deaths remained low. KP.3.1.1 is the dominant sub-lineage, accounting for 63.1% of samples sequenced between weeks 34 and 38, 2024.
Influenza
- Overall, influenza activity was at low levels, however, there has been a slight and consistent increase since week 36. The overall notification rate was 0.9/100,000 population. There were 48 cases, 12 hospitalisations, zero ICU cases and zero deaths reported in week 40. The highest notification rates were in adults aged over 80 years. Influenza A is currently the dominant type accounting for 75% of cases.
RSV
- RSV cases increased tenfold in week 40, but numbers remain low. The overall notification rate was 0.4/100,000 population. There were 19 cases, 13 hospitalisations, zero ICU cases and zero deaths reported. The highest notification and hospitalisation rates were in infants less than 1 year old.
Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI)
- Based on data from one sentinel hospital site, although the number of SARI cases slightly increased in week 40, they remain at a low level; 13 cases were reported compared to 11 the previous week. Two cases (16.7%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2, while none were positive for influenza or RSV.
Outbreaks
- COVID-19 outbreaks decreased by 21% in week 40 2024. A total of 34 COVID-19 outbreaks were reported across all HSE regions and included 13 in nursing homes and 14 in hospitals. One influenza outbreak was reported in a nursing home in the Midwest. Two RSV outbreaks were reported: one in a nursing home and one in a hospital setting. No other ARI outbreaks were reported during week 40 2024.
2 Activity
2.1 Confirmed Cases
1: Number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV by notification date in Ireland between week 40 2023 and week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
Table 1 : Number and incidence of laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV, by age, sex and health region, Ireland, week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR.
Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Title | All pathogens | COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV |
Cases | 474 (9.2) | 407 (7.9) | 48 (0.9) | 19 (0.4) |
Age groups (years) | ||||
<1 | 27 (46.7) | 23 (39.8) | 1 (1.7) | 3 (5.2) |
1-4 | 16 (6.7) | 10 (4.2) | 3 (1.3) | 3 (1.3) |
5-14 | 14 (2.0) | 6 (0.8) | 8 (1.1) | 0 (0.0) |
15-44 | 77 (3.7) | 64 (3.1) | 12 (0.6) | 1 (0.0) |
45-64 | 93 (7.2) | 82 (6.3) | 7 (0.5) | 4 (0.3) |
65-79 | 119 (20.0) | 107 (18.0) | 10 (1.7) | 2 (0.3) |
80+ | 128 (70.7) | 115 (63.5) | 7 (3.9) | 6 (3.3) |
Median age (IQR) | 67 (39-80) | 69 (44-81) | 43 (15-72) | 61 (2-84) |
Sex | ||||
Male | 227 (8.9) | 200 (7.9) | 18 (0.7) | 9 (0.4) |
Female | 246 (9.4) | 207 (7.9) | 30 (1.2) | 9 (0.3) |
HSE Health Regions | ||||
Dublin and North East | 107 (2.1) | 97 (8.2) | 6 (0.5) | 4 (0.3) |
Dublin and Midlands | 67 (1.3) | 56 (5.2) | 9 (0.8) | 2 (0.2) |
Dublin and South East | 106 (2.1) | 92 (9.5) | 11 (1.1) | 3 (0.3) |
South West | 78 (1.5) | 72 (9.7) | 6 (0.8) | 0 (0) |
Mid West | 48 (0.9) | 32 (7.7) | 10 (2.4) | 6 (1.5) |
West and North West | 67 (1.3) | 58 (7.6) | 5 (0.7) | 4 (0.5) |
An overview of the characteristics of all cases reported since the start of the season is presented in Appendix A1.
2: Incidence of COVID-19, influenza and RSV by HSE Health Region for the last 12 weeks, from week 28 2024 to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
3: Age and sex-specific incidence of confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV from week 40 2024 to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
4: Incidence of confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV by age group from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
2.2 Sentinel GP Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) Surveillance
2.2.1 Sentinel GP ARI
5: Sentinel GP ARI consultation rate per 100,000 population overall (with associated number of influenza, RSV and SARS-CoV-2 positive sentinel GP ARI specimens) from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024
2.2.2 Sentinel GP ARI by Age Group
6: Sentinel GP ARI consultation incidence by age-group, from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024 2024
3 Severity and Impact
3.1 Emergency Department Cases
3.1.1 Incidence of Emergency Department Cases
Please note: Emergency Department Cases refer to cases treated in emergency departments only and excludes cases subsequently admitted to hospital.
7: Incidence of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV emergency department cases from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
3.1.2 Number of Emergency Department Cases
Please note: Emergency Department Cases refer to cases treated in emergency departments only and excludes cases subsequently admitted to hospital.
8: Number of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV Emergency Department cases, from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
3.2 Hospital Admissions
3.2.1 Incidence of Hospitalised Cases
9: Incidence of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV hospitalised cases from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
3.2.2 Number of Hospitalised Cases
10: Number of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV hospitalised cases, from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
Table 2 : Number and incidence of confirmed hospitalised cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV, by age, sex and health region, Ireland, week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All pathogens | COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV |
Cases | 196 (3.8) | 171 (3.3) | 12 (0.2) | 13 (0.3) |
Age groups (years) | ||||
<1 | 11 (19.0) | 7 (12.1) | 1 (1.7) | 3 (5.2) |
1-4 | 9 (3.8) | 6 (2.5) | 2 (0.8) | 1 (0.4) |
5-14 | 6 (0.8) | 4 (0.6) | 2 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) |
15-44 | 20 (1.0) | 19 (0.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.0) |
45-64 | 34 (2.6) | 29 (2.2) | 1 (0.1) | 4 (0.3) |
65-79 | 52 (8.7) | 47 (7.9) | 3 (0.5) | 2 (0.3) |
80+ | 64 (35.4) | 59 (32.6) | 3 (1.7) | 2 (1.1) |
Median age (IQR) | 71.5 (48.5-83) | 73 (55-83) | 67.5 (7.75-75.25) | 58 (1-79) |
Sex | ||||
Male | 106 (4.2) | 96 (3.8) | 3 (0.1) | 7 (0.3) |
Female | 90 (3.5) | 75 (2.9) | 9 (0.3) | 6 (0.2) |
HSE Health Regions | ||||
Dublin and North East | 23 (0.4) | 19 (1.6) | 1 (0.1) | 3 (0.3) |
Dublin and Midlands | 32 (0.6) | 28 (2.6) | 2 (0.2) | 2 (0.2) |
Dublin and South East | 39 (0.8) | 32 (3.3) | 4 (0.4) | 3 (0.3) |
South West | 37 (0.7) | 35 (4.7) | 2 (0.3) | 0 (0) |
Mid West | 18 (0.3) | 15 (3.6) | 0 (0) | 3 (0.7) |
West and North West | 47 (0.9) | 42 (5.5) | 3 (0.4) | 2 (0.3) |
An overview of the characteristics of all hospitalised cases reported since the start of the season is presented in Appendix A2.
11: Age and sex-specific incidence of hospitalised cases from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
12: Incidence of hospitalised cases by age group from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
Figure 13: Incidence of hospitalised cases for COVID-19, influenza and RSV infections cumulatively per HSE region, according to patient county of residence in week 40 2024.Data source: CIDR
Table 3: Number and incidence of hospitalised cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV by HSE region (according to patient county of residence) for week 40 2024.
HSE region | COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases | Cases per 100,000 persons | Number of cases | Cases per 100,000 persons | Number cases | Cases per 100,000 persons |
Dublin and North East | 19 | 1.6 | 1 | 0.1 | 3 | 0.3 |
Dublin and Midlands | 28 | 2.6 | 2 | 0.2 | 2 | 0.2 |
Dublin and South East | 32 | 3.3 | 4 | 0.4 | 3 | 0.3 |
South West | 35 | 4.7 | 2 | 0.3 | 0 | 0.0 |
Mid West | 15 | 3.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 |
West and North West | 42 | 5.5 | 3 | 0.4 | 2 | 0.3 |
Total | 171 | 3.3 | 12 | 0.2 | 13 | 0.3 |
3.2.3 Bed Occupancy in Acute Inpatient Settings
14: Number of hospital beds occupied by patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza or RSV. Data source: HSE Planning and Performance
*Number of confirmed cases admitted on to these acute sites at 08:00 hrs on day of reporting. Data source: Performance Management and Improvement Unit
3.3 ICU Admissions
15: COVID-19, influenza and RSV ICU cases from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
Table 4: Number and incidence of ICU admissions due to COVID-19, influenza and RSV, week 40 2024, and season to date (week 40 2024). Data source: CIDR.
| Week 40, 2024 | Season to date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of ICU admissionsa | ICU admissions per 100,000 personsb | Number of ICU admissions | ICU admissions per 100,000 persons |
COVID-19 | 3 | 0.1 | 3 | 0.1 |
Influenza | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
RSV | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
aICU admissions include all cases admitted to ICU due to COVID-19, influenza and RSV. | ||||
bICU admissions per 100,000 population is calculated using the 2022 Census data | ||||
3.4 Sentinel Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) Surveillance
16: Number and incidence of SARI hospitalised cases (emergency admissions) by week of hospital admission, from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024
17: Percentage of SARI cases with a positive laboratory test result for SARS CoV-2, influenza and RSV by week and age group, from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024 2024
3.5 Mortality
3.5.1 Deaths Among Confirmed Cases
18: Number of COVID-19, influenza and RSV deaths by week of death. Data source: CIDR
Table 5: Number and incidence 100,000 persons of COVID-19, influenza and RSV deaths by date of death for the season to date. Data source: CIDR
| COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | Number | Incidence per 100,000 population | Number | Incidence per 100,000 population | Number | Incidence per 100,000 population |
<65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
>65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 Outbreaks
19: Number of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other ARI* outbreaks reported in health and care settings** from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024 2024
* Other ARI outbreaks refer to ARI outbreaks caused by pathogens other than influenza, RSV or SARS-CoV-2
** Includes hospitals, nursing homes, residential institutions (centres for disabilities, centres for older people, children’s/TUSLA residential centres and mental health facilities) community/long-stay units and other healthcare services
Table 6 : COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other ARI outbreaks reported by setting week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR
Epi week: 40 2024 |
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outbreak location | COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV | ARI | Total week 40, 2024 | Total season to date |
Comm. Hosp/Long-stay unit | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Hospital | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
Nursing home | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
Other healthcare service | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Residential institution | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Total Health Care Settings | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 37 |
Total Non Health Care Settings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 37 |
20: Number of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other ARI outbreaks by HSE region, week 40 2024
5 Virology and Genomic Surveillance
5.1 Virus Positivity and Dominant Virus Types/subtypes in Circulation
Table 7: Number and percentage positive for SARS-CoV-2, influenza and RSV by surveillance source week for week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR, National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) and St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH).
|
| SARS-CoV-2 | Influenza | RSV | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surveillance system | Total tested | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive |
NVRL Sentinel GP ARI | 80 | 6 | 7.5 | 1 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
NVRL nonsentinel respiratory viruses | 179 | 12 | 6.7 | 6 | 3.4 | 0 | 0 |
SARS-CoV-2 Laboratory-based surveillance | 3,435 | 325 | 9.5 | ||||
21: Percentage positivity for sentinel GP ARI specimens and non-sentinel respiratory specimens tested by the NVRL for influenza, RSV, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, by week of specimen collection, from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024. PIV = parainfluenza viruses. hMPV = human metapneumovirus. Data source: NVRL
22: Number of sentinel GP ARI and non-sentinel respiratory influenza positive specimens and laboratory confirmed influenza notifications by influenza type/sub-type, by week of specimen collection, from week 40 2023 to week 40 2024. Data source: NVRL, CIDR
Underlying data on the total number of tests, total number of positives and percentage positive by week and for the season to date for each virus for both sentinel and non-sentinel specimens and for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory-based surveillance are presented in Appendix A3, Appendix A4, Appendix A5, Appendix A6
5.2 SARS-CoV-2 Genetic and Antigenic Data Including Whole Genome Sequencing
23: SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing results, specimen collection dates from week 14 2023 to week 38 2024
There is typically a lag time of 1-3 weeks between a case being notified, selected for sequencing and sequencing being completed. Therefore the % of cases notified in this time period who are ultimately sequenced will be higher than reported here.
24: SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing results by week specimen collected from week 34 2024 to week 38 2024
6 SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance
25: Approximate location of wastewater catchment areas and SARS-CoV-2 viral loads (gc/day) in wastewater and percentage change compared to previous week, National Wastewater Surveillance Programme 40 2024
Figure 26: Weekly distribution of population-normalised SARS-CoV-2 viral load (gc/day/person), National Wastewater Surveillance Programme, week 19 2021 to week 40, 2024
7 International update
8 Links to other National respiratory virus reports
COVID-19
Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) Surveillance
9 Technical notes
General
Data are provisional and subject to ongoing review, validation and update. As a result, figures in this report may differ from previously published figures.
Data based on statutory notifications were extracted from Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) system which is described here.
The weekly calendar runs from Sunday to Saturday for respiratory virus notifiations on CIDR (as per the Infectious Disease Regulations 1982 and subsequent amendments) and Monday to Sunday for the sentinel GP and SARI surveillance systems (as per ISO week). Further information on epidemiological dates and weeks can be found on the HPSC website.
Other data sources include:
National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), GP Out-of-hours (GP00Hs) services, Sentinel GP surveillance system, National SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing Surveillance Programme (NSWGSSP), National SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance Programme, Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) surveillance system, HSE’s Covax system (the natrional vaccine management system used to administer COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations across Ireland) and General Register Office (GRO) (deaths registrations).
The case definitions used for COVID-19, influenza and RSV in 2024/2025 are available here.
Population data were taken from Census 2022.
Activity
GPOOHs: National data on calls to GP Out-of-Hours services in Ireland are collated by HPSC. Five out of 14 GPOOHs services currently participate in this programme. Records of calls with clinical symptoms self-reported as ‘flu’ or ‘cough’ are included in the analysis.
Sentinel GP and NVRL: Currently, 100 general practices (located in all HSE-Areas) are recruited to report electronically, on a weekly basis, the number of patients who consulted with acute respiratory infection (ARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI). The combined patient population in these practices is 10% of the national population. Sentinel GPs sent combined nose and throat swabs to the NVRL from ARI patients each week. The NVRL routinely test sentinel GP and non-sentinel respiratory specimens for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV and a panel of other seasonal respiratory viruses (ORV).
Test Positivity
Positive tests refer to all positive specimens and includes duplicates and individuals who were retested.
Since 28/02/2022 (week 9), PCR testing is only recommended for symptomatic people in the community within certain risk groups: those who have not had booster vaccination and are aged 55 years and older; those with a high-risk medical conditions; those who are immunocompromised; those who live in the same household as a person who is immunocompromised; those who provide care or support for person they know to be immunocompromised; those who are pregnant; Healthcare Workers.
Since 30/03/2023 (week 13, 2023), COVID-19 Community Test Centres closed and PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 is only performed based on clinical assessment.
Severity
The number of cases hospitalised and admitted to ICU described in this report relate only to notified cases during this reporting period, with known hospitalisation/ICU status at the time of reporting.
SARI cases are identified from new admissions through the Emergency Department, based on clinical symptoms. Patients that develop SARI during their admission, or are admitted through alternate routes, are not included. A SARI case is definefd as a person hospitalised for at least 24 hours with acute respiratory infection, with at least one of the following symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath OR sudden onset of anosmia, ageusia or dysgeusia with onset of symptoms within 14 days prior to hospital admission. A SARI case refers to an individual patient episode of care.
COVID-19, influenza and RSV deaths are defined as a death in a person with laboratory confirmation of COVID-19, influenza or RSV infection as per the COVID-19, influenza and RSV surveillance case definitions (this includes cases detected postmortem) where COVID-19, influenza or RSV is reported in any of the four cause of death fields on the death certificate. Deaths where there is a clear alternative cause of death (e.g. trauma, suicide) are not recorded as COVID-19/influenza/RSV deaths. Deaths where there is a period of complete recovery (as assessed by a clinician) between a COVID-19, influenza or RSV episode of illness and death, are also not recorded as deaths.
Excess mortality refers to the number of deaths from all causes during a period of time above and beyond what we would have normally expected to see. Excess deaths are typically defined as the difference between the observed number of deaths in a specific time period and the expected number of deaths in the same time period. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) receives daily registered deaths data from the General Register Office (GRO) on all deaths from all causes registered in Ireland. These data have been used since 2009 to monitor excess all‐cause deaths in Ireland as part of a wider European Mortality Monitoring Project known as EuroMOMO. There is a substantive delay in the registration of deaths in Ireland which impacts on the timeliness of these data.
Outbreaks
For surveillance purposes, the following outbreak definition is used for notifying confirmed outbreaks/clusters of respiratory infection:
• Two or more cases of acute respiratpry infection with the same pathogen (COVID-19, influenza or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)) confirmed by a laboratory test or near patient test carried out by a health professional, and there is reason to consider that these cases may be epidemiologically linked in place and time.
OR
• Other ARI outbreaks refer to outbreaks of acute respiratory infection caused by respiratory pathogens other than influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV and consists of two or more cases of illness with symptoms consistent with the same pattern of infection related illness, and at least one person is laboratory confirmed and there is reason to consider that they may be epidemiologically linked in place and time.
Regional Departments of Public Health currently prioritise the investigation and reporting of outbreaks in settings that benefit most from public health and clinical intervention. These settings include acute hospitals, nursing homes, community hospital/long-stay units, residential institutions and other healthcare settings. The outbreak data reported here focuses on these key settings/groups.
Virology
The type/subtype of laboratory confirmed influenza notifications are reported on the CIDR system. The NVRL report on influenza type/subtype of sentinel GP ARI and non-sentinel respiratory specimens on a weekly basis.
The HPSC link sequencing results received from laboratories to epidemiological data on COVID-19 cases reported on the CIDR system. This report summarises WGS results and epidemiological data for COVID-19 cases that have been sequenced in Ireland since week 51 2020 (specimen dates between 13/12/2020 and 21/09/2024). The SARS-CoV-2 sequencing results included in this report reflect all data available as of 07/10/2024.
The SARS-CoV-2 sequencing sampling framework currently focuses on notified COVID-19 cases with severe disease (hospitalisation, ICU admission) and deaths, COVID-19 outbreaks in health and care settings, sentinel surveillance programmes in the community and acute hospitals and targeted sequencing based on public health risk assessment/clinical requests and virological changes e.g. new variant of concern.
There is typically a lag time of 1-3 weeks between a COVID-19 case being notified, selected for sequencing and SARS-CoV-2 sequencing being completed. Therefore, the proportion of notified COVID-19 cases notified in this time period from whom specimens are ultimately sequenced will be higher than currently reported here.
Variant working definitions for ‘SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern’ (VOC), ‘SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest’ (VOI) and ‘SARS-CoV-2 variants under monitoring’ (VUM) are available on the WHO website and ECDC website.
Wastewater
A detailed description of the process involved for wastewater collection, sampling and analyses is available in the routinely published national SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance programme reports available here
10 Appendix
Appendix Table 1: Confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV by age, sex and health region, from week 40 2024, to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR.
Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All pathogens | COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV |
Cases | 474 (9.2) | 407 (7.9) | 48 (0.9) | 19 (0.4) |
Age groups (years) | ||||
<1 | 27 (46.7) | 23 (39.8) | 1 (1.7) | 3 (5.2) |
1-4 | 16 (6.7) | 10 (4.2) | 3 (1.3) | 3 (1.3) |
5-14 | 14 (2.0) | 6 (0.8) | 8 (1.1) | 0 (0.0) |
15-44 | 77 (3.7) | 64 (3.1) | 12 (0.6) | 1 (0.0) |
45-64 | 93 (7.2) | 82 (6.3) | 7 (0.5) | 4 (0.3) |
65-79 | 119 (20.0) | 107 (18.0) | 10 (1.7) | 2 (0.3) |
80+ | 128 (70.7) | 115 (63.5) | 7 (3.9) | 6 (3.3) |
Median age (IQR) | 67 (39-80) | 69 (44-81) | 43 (15-72) | 61 (2-84) |
Sex | ||||
Male | 227 (8.9) | 200 (7.9) | 18 (0.7) | 9 (0.4) |
Female | 246 (9.4) | 207 (7.9) | 30 (1.2) | 9 (0.3) |
HSE Health Regions | ||||
Dublin and North East | 107 (2.1) | 97 (8.2) | 6 (0.5) | 4 (0.3) |
Dublin and Midlands | 67 (1.3) | 56 (5.2) | 9 (0.8) | 2 (0.2) |
Dublin and South East | 106 (2.1) | 92 (9.5) | 11 (1.1) | 3 (0.3) |
South West | 78 (1.5) | 72 (9.7) | 6 (0.8) | 0 (0) |
Mid West | 48 (0.9) | 32 (7.7) | 10 (2.4) | 6 (1.5) |
West and North West | 67 (1.3) | 58 (7.6) | 5 (0.7) | 4 (0.5) |
Appendix Table 2: Hospitalised cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV by age, sex and health region, from week 40,2024, to week 40 2024. Data source: CIDR.
Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Title | All pathogens | COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV |
Cases | 196 (3.8) | 171 (3.3) | 12 (0.2) | 13 (0.3) |
Age groups (years) | ||||
<1 | 11 (19.0) | 7 (12.1) | 1 (1.7) | 3 (5.2) |
1-4 | 9 (3.8) | 6 (2.5) | 2 (0.8) | 1 (0.4) |
5-14 | 6 (0.8) | 4 (0.6) | 2 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) |
15-44 | 20 (1.0) | 19 (0.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.0) |
45-64 | 34 (2.6) | 29 (2.2) | 1 (0.1) | 4 (0.3) |
65-79 | 52 (8.7) | 47 (7.9) | 3 (0.5) | 2 (0.3) |
80+ | 64 (35.4) | 59 (32.6) | 3 (1.7) | 2 (1.1) |
Median age (IQR) | 72 (48-83) | 73 (55-83) | 68 (8-75) | 58 (1-79) |
Sex | ||||
Male | 106 (4.2) | 96 (3.8) | 3 (0.1) | 7 (0.3) |
Female | 90 (3.5) | 75 (2.9) | 9 (0.3) | 6 (0.2) |
HSE Health Regions | ||||
Dublin and North East | 23 (0.4) | 19 (1.6) | 1 (0.1) | 3 (0.3) |
Dublin and Midlands | 32 (0.6) | 28 (2.6) | 2 (0.2) | 2 (0.2) |
Dublin and South East | 39 (0.8) | 32 (3.3) | 4 (0.4) | 3 (0.3) |
South West | 37 (0.7) | 35 (4.7) | 2 (0.3) | 0 (0) |
Mid West | 18 (0.3) | 15 (3.6) | 0 (0) | 3 (0.7) |
West and North West | 47 (0.9) | 42 (5.5) | 3 (0.4) | 2 (0.3) |
Appendix Table 3: Total number tested, and number and percentage positive Sentinel GP ARI specimens by respiratory virus, for week 39 2024, week 40 2024, and the 2024/2025 season. Data source: NVRL.
| Week 39 2024 (N = 97) | Week 40 2024 (N = 80) | 2024/2025 (N = 80) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virus | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive |
SARS-CoV-2 | 8 | 8.2 | 6 | 7.5 | 6 | 7.5 |
Influenza Virus | 4 | 4.1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1.2 |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Rhino/enterovirus | 37 | 38.1 | 28 | 35.0 | 28 | 35.0 |
Adenovirus | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1.2 |
Bocavirus | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) | 2 | 2.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV-1) | 3 | 3.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Parainfluenza virus type 2 (PIV-2) | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1.2 |
Parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) | 1 | 1.0 | 2 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 |
Parainfluenza virus type 4 (PIV-4) | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Appendix Table 4: Total number tested, and number and percentage positive NVRL non-sentinel respiratory specimens by respiratory virus, week 39 2024, week 40 2024, and the 2024/2025 season. Data source: NVRL.
| Week 39 2024 (N = 126) | Week 40 2024 (N = 179) | 2024/2025 (N = 179) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virus | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive |
SARS-CoV-2 | 3 | 2.4 | 12 | 6.7 | 12 | 6.7 |
Influenza Virus | 1 | 0.8 | 6 | 3.4 | 6 | 3.4 |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) | 1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Rhino/enterovirus | 35 | 27.8 | 53 | 29.6 | 53 | 29.6 |
Adenovirus | 2 | 1.6 | 3 | 1.7 | 3 | 1.7 |
Bocavirus | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 |
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) | 5 | 4.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV-1) | 2 | 1.6 | 4 | 2.2 | 4 | 2.2 |
Parainfluenza virus type 2 (PIV-2) | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.7 | 3 | 1.7 |
Parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) | 2 | 1.6 | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 |
Parainfluenza virus type 4 (PIV-4) | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.1 | 2 | 1.1 |
Appendix Table 5: Influenza type and sub-type distribution among sentinel GP ARI and non-sentinel respiratory influenza positive specimens, for week 39 2024, week 40 2024, and the 2024/2025 season. Data source: NVRL.
|
| Influenza A | Influenza B | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Time period | Specimen source | Total influenza positive | Total | A(H1)pdm09 | A(H3) | A(not subtyped) | Total | B Victoria | B (upspecified) |
Week 39 2024 | Sentinel GP ARI | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Total | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
Week 40 2024 | Sentinel GP ARI | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Total | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Sentinel GP ARI | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Total | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Appendix Table 6: RSV type distribution among sentinel GP ARI and non-sentinel respiratory RSV positive specimens, for week 39, 2024 week 40 2024, and the 2024/2025 season. Data source: NVRL.
Time period | Specimen source | Total RSV positive | RSV A | RSV B | RSV (unspecified) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week 39 2024 | Sentinel GP ARI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Week 40 2024 | Sentinel GP ARI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Sentinel GP ARI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |