NOTE: We have transitioned into a new season (July 2023-June 2024) for reporting of COVID-19 and influenza. Due to small numbers at the start of this current season, a number of figures and graphs are unavailable.

Provincial Respiratory Surveillance Report

COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza

2023-2024 season

*seasons are defined as July 2, 2023 to June 29, 2024


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 33 (August 13 – August 19, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on August 24, 2023
Next reporting date: September 1, 2023


COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity

COVID-19 activity in week 33 remained low; and overall, activity was similar with the previous week. The number of reported cases increased compared with the previous week. The number of COVID-19 associated hospital admissions, number of COVID-19 associated ICU admissions and number of COVID-19 associated deaths all were similar with the previous week. Overall, laboratory detection increased since the new season.

Wastewater surveillance data up to August 15 indicated increased activity of COVID-19 in Winnipeg and Brandon at lower levels compared to the fall of 2022.

As of August 19, in all Manitoba residents, 77.3% have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, 21.8% have received at least one dose of bivalent vaccine.

Cases

About cases

  • Cases this week: 56
  • Total cases: 242 (July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023)
More Analyses

Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 110
  • Weekly positivity rate: 11.4%

Total (July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023)

  • Tested people: 4,279
  • Population tested: 0.3%
  • Specimens tested: 5,070
  • Positivity rate: 7.3%
More Analyses

Severity

About associated severity

Severe outcomes this week

  • Hospital admissions: 9
    • ICU admissions3: 2
  • Deaths: 0

Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023)

  • Hospital admissions: 96
    • ICU admissions: 16
  • Deaths: 3
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 (July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023)

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

Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity

Influenza activity in week 33 continued to be low at inter-seasonal levels. Overall, influenza activity this season had an early start.

Other respiratory viruses continue to co-circulate. The RSV detection and testing positive rate in week 33 was similar to the previous week.

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

Cases

Cases this week

  • Influenza A: 2
  • Influenza B: 0

Total cases (July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023)

  • Influenza A: 10
  • Influenza B: 6
More Analyses

Testing

Influenza testing this week

  • Average daily specimens: 110
  • Influenza A positivity rate: 0.1%
  • Influenza B positivity rate: 0.0%

Other respiratory pathogens this week

  • RSV4 positivity rate: 0.5%
  • RSV detections: 4
More Analyses

Severity

Severe outcomes this week

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

Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023)

  • Hospital admissions: 7
    • ICU admissions: 0
  • Deaths: 0

Outbreaks

Influenza outbreaks this week

  • Influenza A: 0
  • Influenza B: 0

Total influenza outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023)

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

Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity

In week 33, 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 33 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: 453

Reporting fever and cough: 1.1%

More Analyses

Physician Visits

About sentinel physicians

Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 0%

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: 1242

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 – 2024 (July through June)

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Figure 2. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023

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Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023

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Testing

Figure 4. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023

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Severity

Figure 5. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023

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

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Outbreaks

Figure 6. Weekly COVID-19 Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2020 – 2024

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

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Vaccination

Table 1. Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccinations, Manitoba, August 19, 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 10.2% 6.5% 2.7% 0.1%
05-11 50.8% 39.0% 1.5% 2.1%
12-17 81.0% 75.2% 1.0% 7.6%
18-29 86.6% 83.6% 0.8% 8.4%
30-39 83.3% 80.8% 0.9% 13.5%
40-49 87.8% 85.9% 1.3% 18.5%
50-59 85.6% 84.2% 2.1% 24.7%
60-69 >=95.0% 94.0% 6.0% 44.8%
70-79 102% 101% 13.7% 62.9%
80+ >=95.0% >=95.0% 19.0% 64.9%
ALL 80.4% 77.3% 3.5% 21.8%

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

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Seasonal Influenza

Cases

Figure 7. Weekly Cases of Influenza by Season, Manitoba, 2019 – 2024 (July through June)

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Table 2. Antiviral Susceptibility of Isolates by Influenza Type and Subtype, Canada, September 1, 2022 – August 19, 2023

Oseltamivir
Zanamivir
Area Strain Resistant Susceptible Resistant Susceptible
Canada A(H3N2) 0 379 0 379
A(H1N1) 0 97 0 97
B 0 115 0 115
Manitoba A(H3N2) 0 205 0 205
A(H1N1) 0 49 0 49
B 0 38 0 38
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Table 3. Strain Characterization of Influenza Isolates, Canada, September 1, 2022 – August 19, 2023

Strain Canada Manitoba
Influenza A (H3N2)/Darwin/6/2021-like 446 223
Influenza A (H1N1)/Wisconsin/588/2019-like 99 50
Influenza B/Austria/1359417/2021-like 116 38

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.

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Testing

Figure 8. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for Influenza by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023

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Figure 9. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – August 19, 2023

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

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Outbreaks

Figure 10. Weekly Respiratory and Influenza Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2018 – August 19, 2023

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

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Vaccinations

Table 4. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba, September 1, 2022 – August 19, 2023

Age group Doses Coverage percentage
0-4 17459 20.7%
5-17 37431 16.1%
18-49 96687 15.9%
50-64 83341 32.1%
65+ 146559 60.3%
All 387750 27.2%

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FluWatchers

Figure 11. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – August 19, 2023

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Physician Visits

Figure 12. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – August 19, 2023

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Antiviral

Figure 13. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – August 19, 2023

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ED Visits

Figure 14. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – August 19, 2023

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