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 38 (September 17 – September 23, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on September 28, 2023
Next reporting date: October 6, 2023

Outbreak reporting is currently under review and will resume mid October.

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity COVID-19 activity in week 38 increased in all indicators compared with the previous week. Wastewater surveillance data up to September 19 indicated similar activity of COVID-19 in Winnipeg and Brandon at lower levels compared to the fall of 2022. As of September 23, in all Manitoba residents, 77.2% 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: 204 Total cases: 877 (July 2, 2023 – September 23, 2023) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 191 Weekly positivity rate: 24.8% Total (July 2, 2023 – September 23, 2023) Tested people: 8,463 Population tested: 0.6% Specimens tested: 10,439 Positivity rate: 13.2% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 30 ICU admissions3: 3 Deaths: 2 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – September 23, 2023) Hospital admissions: 286 ICU admissions: 27 Deaths: 6 More Analyses Severe outcomes	Outbreaks
Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity Influenza activity in week 38 continued to be low at inter-seasonal levels. The RSV detection and test positivity in week 38 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: 1 Influenza B: 1 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – September 23, 2023) Influenza A: 17 Influenza B: 8 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: 171 Influenza A positivity rate: 0.3% Influenza B positivity rate: 0.1% Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: 0.0% RSV detections: 0 More Analyses Influenza testing Respiratory detection	Severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 0 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – September 23, 2023) Hospital admissions: 9 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: 0	Outbreaks
Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity In week 38 activity in all syndromic indicators are 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 38 increased compared to the last few weeks and at the average level during 2017-2019, prior to the pandemic.		FluWatchers About FluWatchers Participants reporting this week: 485 Reporting fever and cough: 2.7% More Analyses Check trend
Physician Visits About sentinel physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 1.3% More Analyses Check Trend	Antiviral About Antiviral Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies this week: 1 More Analyses Check Trend	ED Visits About emergency room visits Respiratory visits to emergency department (ED) this week: 1359 More Analyses Check Trend
Important Notes Data about COVID-19 and influenza cases are extracted from PHIMS. 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. ICU admissions were included in hospital admissions, and include adult and pediatric cases. 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 – September 23, 2023

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Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – September 23, 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 – September 23, 2023

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Severity

Figure 5. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – September 23, 2023

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

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Vaccination

Table 1. Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccinations, Manitoba, September 23, 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	10.0%	6.5%	2.3%	0.1%
05-11	50.1%	38.4%	1.1%	2.2%
12-17	80.6%	74.7%	0.6%	7.6%
18-29	86.4%	83.5%	0.5%	8.4%
30-39	83.2%	80.7%	0.6%	13.4%
40-49	87.8%	85.9%	0.8%	18.6%
50-59	85.3%	84.0%	1.5%	24.6%
60-69	>=95.0%	94.0%	5.0%	44.8%
70-79	102%	101%	12.4%	63.1%
80+	>=95.0%	>=95.0%	17.8%	65.2%
ALL	80.3%	77.2%	3.0%	21.8%

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

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Seasonal Influenza

Cases

Figure 6. Weekly Cases of Influenza by Season, Manitoba, 2019 – 2024 (July through June)

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Testing

Figure 7. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for Influenza by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – September 23, 2023

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Figure 8. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – September 23, 2023

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

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Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba, September 1, 2022 – September 23, 2023

Age group	Doses	Coverage percentage
0-4	17465	20.7%
5-17	37442	16.1%
18-49	96712	15.9%
50-64	83350	32.1%
65+	146566	60.3%
All	387818	27.2%

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FluWatchers

Figure 9. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – September 23, 2023

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Physician Visits

Figure 10. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – September 23, 2023

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Antiviral

Figure 11. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – September 23, 2023

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ED Visits

Figure 12. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – September 23, 2023

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