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 42 (October 15 – October 21, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on October 26, 2023
Next reporting date: November 3, 2023

Outbreak reporting remains under review and is expected to resume the second week of November.

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity COVID-19 activity in week 42 was similar with the previous week. Laboratory detection increased compared with the previous week. Wastewater surveillance data up to October 10 indicated similar activity in Brandon and Winnipeg West end. When compared to the fall of 2022, Winnipeg regions have similar activity and Brandon has lower activity. As of October 21, in all Manitoba residents, 77.0% have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, 21.7% have received at least one dose of bivalent vaccine.		Cases About cases Cases this week: 200 Total cases: 1,619 (July 2, 2023 – October 21, 2023) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 207 Weekly positivity rate: 18.9% Total (July 2, 2023 – October 21, 2023) Tested people: 12,444 Population tested: 0.9% Specimens tested: 15,986 Positivity rate: 15.5% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 44 ICU admissions3: 3 Deaths: 0 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – October 21, 2023) Hospital admissions: 532 ICU admissions: 44 Deaths: 13 More Analyses Severe outcomes	Outbreaks
Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity Influenza activity in week 42 continued to be low at inter-seasonal levels. The RSV detection and test positivity in week 42 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: 11 Influenza B: 0 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – October 21, 2023) Influenza A: 37 Influenza B: 10 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: 192 Influenza A positivity rate: 0.5% Influenza B positivity rate: 0.0% Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: 0.7% RSV detections: 9 More Analyses Influenza testing Respiratory detection	Severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 0 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – October 21, 2023) Hospital admissions: 11 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: 0	Outbreaks
Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity In week 42 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 42 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: 497 Reporting fever and cough: 2.6% More Analyses Check trend
Physician Visits About sentinel physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 3.1% 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: 1425 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 – October 21, 2023

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Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 21, 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 – October 21, 2023

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Severity

Figure 5. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 21, 2023

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

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Vaccination

Table 1. Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccinations, Manitoba, October 21, 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	9.9%	6.4%	2.2%	0.1%
05-11	49.5%	38.0%	1.4%	2.2%
12-17	80.4%	74.3%	1.1%	7.5%
18-29	86.1%	83.2%	1.1%	8.4%
30-39	83.1%	80.6%	1.8%	13.4%
40-49	87.9%	86.0%	2.5%	18.6%
50-59	85.2%	83.8%	3.9%	24.5%
60-69	>=95.0%	94.1%	10.0%	44.7%
70-79	102%	101%	19.3%	63.2%
80+	>=95.0%	>=95.0%	22.8%	65.1%
ALL	80.2%	77.0%	5.0%	21.7%

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 – October 21, 2023

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Figure 8. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 21, 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

	Sep 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023		Sep 1, 2023 - Oct 21, 2023
Age group	Vaccinated people	Coverage percentage	Vaccinated people	Coverage percentage
0-4	17426	20.6%	1647	2.0%
5-17	37312	16.1%	4377	1.9%
18-49	95726	15.7%	17499	2.9%
50-64	83130	32.0%	16975	6.5%
65+	146352	60.2%	40075	16.5%
All	386177	27.0%	80715	5.7%

Note. Actual number of people vaccinated between September 1 and October 21 may be higher due to delays in reporting doses administered.

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FluWatchers

Figure 9. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – October 21, 2023

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Physician Visits

Figure 10. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – October 21, 2023

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Antiviral

Figure 11. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – October 21, 2023

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ED Visits

Figure 12. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – October 21, 2023

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