Provincial Respiratory Surveillance Report

COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza

2022-2023


This weekly report provides a current epidemiological update on the intensity and severity of respiratory activity in Manitoba including laboratory confirmed activity of both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza. Surveillance data include syndromic indicators, laboratory testing, associated hospitalization and mortality, and outbreaks. Updates around immunization coverage in COVID-19 and seasonal influenza are also included.

Data are reported with a one-week delay for increased data accuracy, completeness and reliability. More analyses continue to be conducted and will be added to this report as available. It is published online at approximately 10:00am every Friday.

Week 18 (April 30 – May 6, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on May 11, 2023
Next reporting date: May 19, 2023


COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity

COVID-19 activity in week 18 was similar at lower level in the last few weeks. The number of reported cases was similar to the last week, and the number of COVID-19 associated hospital admissions increased as well as the ICU admissions. The incidence rate in people aged 80 years and older was similar the last week. Overall, laboratory detection decreased from the fall of 2022. Older adults continue to have higher risk for COVID-19 infection, associated hospital admissions, and fatalities.

Wastewater surveillance data up to April 25 indicated sustained activity of COVID-19 in Winnipeg and Brandon at lower levels compared to the fall of 2022.

As of May 4, in all Manitoba residents, 77.6% have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, 21.3% have received at least one dose of bivalent vaccine.

Cases

About cases

  • Cases this week: 106
  • Total cases: 9,335
More Analyses

Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 168
  • Weekly positivity rate: 14.8%

Total

  • Tested people: 51,736
  • Population tested: 3.7%
  • Specimens tested: 83,106
  • Positivity rate: 17.7%
More Analyses

Severity

About associated severity

Severe outcomes this week

  • Hospital admissions: 47
    • ICU admissions3: 11
  • Deaths: 2

Total severe outcomes

  • Hospital admissions: 3,180
    • ICU admissions: 419
  • Deaths: 399
More Analyses

Outbreaks

About outbreaks

COVID-19 outbreaks this week

  • In long-term care facilities: 3
  • In hospitals: 0
  • In other settings: 0

Total COVID-19 outbreaks

  • In long-term care facilities: 255
  • In hospitals: 106
  • In other settings: 1
More Analyses

Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity

Influenza activity level in week 18 continued to be low at inter-seasonal levels. This week, there were sporadic laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A and B. Overall, influenza activity this season had an early start and also decreased earlier than would be expected.

Other respiratory viruses continue to co-circulate. The RSV detection and testing positive rate in week 18 was similar to the previous week.

The activity level observed nationally was low for both influenza A and B.

Cases

Cases this week

  • Influenza A: 4
  • Influenza B: 4

Total cases

  • Influenza A: 2,662
  • Influenza B: 31
More Analyses

Testing

Influenza testing this week

  • Average daily specimens: 159
  • Influenza A positivity rate: 0.4%
  • Influenza B positivity rate: 0.5%

Other respiratory pathogens this week

  • RSV4 positivity rate: 0.9%
  • RSV detections: 10
More Analyses

Severity

Severe outcomes this week

  • Hospital admissions: 1
    • ICU admissions: 0
  • Deaths: 0

Total severe outcomes

  • Hospital admissions: 730
    • ICU admissions: 6
  • Deaths: 60
More Analyses

Outbreaks

Influenza outbreaks this week

  • Influenza A: 0
  • Influenza B: 0

Total influenza outbreaks

  • Influenza A: 37
  • Influenza B: 0
More Analyses

Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity

In week 18, there continued to have sustained activity in all syndromic indicators at reduced levels. Data fluctuations in ILI related visits to sentinel physicians were observed due to a small number of submitting sentinel physicians.

Weekly respiratory related visits to emergency departments/urgent care in week 18 were similar to the last few weeks and at the average level during 2017-2019, prior to the pandemic.

FluWatchers

About FluWatchers

Participants reporting this week: 507

Reporting fever and cough: 1%

More Analyses

Physician Visits

About sentinel physicians

Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 3.6%

More Analyses

Antiviral

About Antiviral

Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies this week: 0

More Analyses

ED Visits

About emergency room visits

Respiratory visits to emergency department (ED) this week: 1409

More Analyses

Important Notes

  1. Data about COVID-19 and influenza cases are extracted from PHIMS.
  2. Numbers are subject to change. Missed events in the current report due to reporting delays will be included in later reports when data become available. Cumulative totals include all events from start of the current season to end of the reporting week.
  3. ICU admissions were included in hospital admissions, and include adult and pediatric cases.
  4. RSV - Respiratory syncytial virus.

COVID-19

Cases

Figure 1. Weekly Cases of COVID-19 by Season, Manitoba, 2020 – 2023 (July through June)

Back


Figure 2. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Back


Figure 3. Incidence Rate (/10,000 Population) of COVID-19 Cases by Age Group and Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Back


Figure 4. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Back


Table 1. Cases of COVID-19 and Incidence Rate (/10,000 population) by Health Region, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Helath region Total cases Cases this week Incidence rate this week Age-standardized incidence rate* this week
Winnipeg RHA 5596 72 0.9 0.9
Southern Health-Santé Sud 973 10 0.5 0.5
Interlake-Eastern RHA 950 10 0.7 0.7
Prairie Mountain Health 1255 14 0.8 0.7
Northern Health Region 560 0 0.0 0.0

Note: * Age-standardized rates are used to account for differences in the age structure in health regions. The whole Manitoba population is used as the standard population.

Back


Testing

Figure 5. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Back


Severity

Figure 6. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Note. ICU admissions are not included in the hospital admissions.

Back


Figure 7. Age Distribution of Severe COVID-19 Cases This Week Compared to All Cases, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Back


Outbreaks

Figure 8. Weekly COVID-19 Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2020 – 2023

Note: All respiratory outbreaks include COVID-19 outbreaks, influenza outbreaks and the other respiratory outbreaks with known or unknown pathogens.

Back

Vaccination

Table 2. Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccinations, Manitoba, May 6, 2023

Age group (years) At least 1 dose At least 2 doses At least 1 dose within the last 6 months At least 1 dose of Bivalent
.5-04 10.5% 6.3% 4.9% 0.1%
05-11 53.1% 40.9% 3.9% 1.9%
12-17 81.6% 76.4% 3.9% 7.6%
18-29 87.2% 84.2% 2.9% 8.3%
30-39 83.7% 81.2% 3.8% 13.4%
40-49 87.8% 85.9% 4.9% 18.3%
50-59 86.2% 84.9% 8.5% 24.7%
60-69 >=95.0% 93.8% 16.2% 44.4%
70-79 101% >=95.0% 23.1% 61.1%
80+ >=95.0% >=95.0% 23.9% 62.3%
ALL 80.8% 77.6% 8.1% 21.4%

For more information, please visit COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Canada - Canada.ca

Back

Seasonal Influenza

Cases

Figure 9. Weekly Cases of Influenza by Season, Manitoba, 2019 – 2023 (July through June)

Back


Figure 10. Incidence Rate (/10,000 Population) of Influenza Cases by Age Group and Week of Public Health Report Date, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Back


Table 3. Cases of Influenza and Incidence Rate (/10,000 population) by Health Region, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Helath region Total cases Cases this week Incidence rate this week Age-standardized incidence rate* this week
Winnipeg RHA 1232 4 0.1 0.1
Southern Health-Santé Sud 359 0 0.0 0.0
Interlake-Eastern RHA 338 2 0.1 0.1
Prairie Mountain Health 487 1 0.1 0.0
Northern Health Region 242 1 0.1 0.2

Note: * Age-standardized rates are used to account for differences in the age structure in health regions. The whole Manitoba population is used as the standard population.

Back


Table 4. Antiviral Susceptibility of Isolates by Influenza Type and Subtype, Canada, September 1, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Oseltamivir
Zanamivir
Area Strain Resistant Susceptible Resistant Susceptible
Canada A(H3N2) 0 365 0 365
A(H1N1) 0 43 0 43
B 0 26 0 26
Manitoba A(H3N2) 0 205 0 205
A(H1N1) 0 31 0 31
B 0 11 0 11
Back


Table 5. Strain Characterization of Influenza Isolates, Canada, September 1, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Strain Canada Manitoba
Influenza A (H3N2)/Darwin/6/2021-like 394 223
Influenza A (H1N1)/Wisconsin/588/2019-like 45 33
Influenza B/Austria/1359417/2021-like 36 12

Notes: A/Darwin/6/2021-like virus is the H3N2 virus selected for the 2022/23 Northern Hemisphere Influenza vaccine. A/Wisconsin/588/2019-like virus is the recommmended H1N1 component for the 2022-2023 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.

Back


Testing

Figure 11. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for Influenza by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Back


Figure 12. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Note. Other respiratory viruses include adenovirus, enterovirus/rhinovirus, human coronavirus (seasonal), human metapneumovirus and human parainfluenza virus.

Back


Severity

Figure 13. Severe Outcomes of Influenza by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Note. ICU admissions are not included in the hospital admissions.

Back


Figure 14. Age Distribution of Severe Influenza Cases in All Cases, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Back


Outbreaks

Figure 15. Weekly Respiratory and Influenza Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2018 – May 6, 2023

Note: All respiratory outbreaks include COVID-19 outbreaks, influenza outbreaks and the other respiratory outbreaks with known or unknown pathogens.

Back


Vaccinations

Table 7. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba, September 1, 2022 – May 6, 2023

Age group Doses Coverage percentage
0-4 17350 20.6%
5-17 37312 16.1%
18-49 96353 15.8%
50-64 83188 32.0%
65+ 146407 60.2%
All 386691 27.1%

Back


FluWatchers

Figure 16. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – May 6, 2023

Back


Physician Visits

Figure 17. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – May 6, 2023

Back


Antiviral

Figure 18. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – May 6, 2023

Back


ED Visits

Figure 19. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – May 6, 2023

Back