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 43 (October 22 – October 28, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on November 2, 2023
Next reporting date: November 10, 2023

NEW outbreak reporting has resumed.

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity COVID-19 activity in week 43 was similar with the previous week. Laboratory detection decreased compared with the previous week. Wastewater surveillance data to October 24 indicated increased 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 28, 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: 174 Total cases: 1,793 (July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 192 Weekly positivity rate: 21.1% Total (July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023) Tested people: 13,372 Population tested: 1% Specimens tested: 17,330 Positivity rate: 15.9% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 49 ICU admissions3: 4 Deaths: 2 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023) Hospital admissions: 609 ICU admissions: 49 Deaths: 22 More Analyses Severe outcomes	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks this week In long-term care facilities: 4 In hospitals: 2 In other settings: 1 Total COVID-19 outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023) In long-term care facilities: 82 In hospitals: 12 In other settings: 12 More Analyses Check trend
Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity Influenza activity in week 43 continued to be low at inter-seasonal levels. The RSV detection and test positivity in week 43 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: 4 Influenza B: 0 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023) Influenza A: 41 Influenza B: 10 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: 154 Influenza A positivity rate: 0.4% Influenza B positivity rate: 0.0% Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: 0.7% RSV detections: 8 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 28, 2023) Hospital admissions: 13 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: 0	Outbreaks About outbreaks Influenza outbreaks this week Influenza A: 0 Influenza B: 0 Total influenza outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023) Influenza A: 2 Influenza B: 0 Other outbreaks This week: 0 Total (July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023): 28 More Analyses Check trend
Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity In week 43 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 43 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: 488 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: 1.4% More Analyses Check Trend	Antiviral About Antiviral Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies this week: 2 More Analyses Check Trend	ED Visits About emergency room visits Respiratory visits to emergency department (ED) this week: 1332 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)

Back

Figure 2. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023

Back

Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023

Back

Testing

Figure 4. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023

Back

Severity

Figure 5. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023

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

Back

Vaccination

Table 1. Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccinations, Manitoba, October 28, 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%	6.4%	2.0%	0.1%
05-11	49.4%	37.8%	1.5%	2.2%
12-17	80.3%	74.2%	1.4%	7.5%
18-29	86.0%	83.1%	1.4%	8.4%
30-39	83.1%	80.6%	2.5%	13.4%
40-49	87.9%	86.0%	3.4%	18.6%
50-59	85.1%	83.8%	5.2%	24.5%
60-69	>=95.0%	94.1%	12.4%	44.7%
70-79	102%	101%	21.5%	63.3%
80+	>=95.0%	>=95.0%	24.0%	65.1%
ALL	80.2%	77.0%	6.0%	21.7%

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

Back

Seasonal Influenza

Cases

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

Back

Testing

Figure 7. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for Influenza by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023

Back

Figure 8. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 28, 2023

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

Back

Outbreaks

Figure 9. Weekly Respiratory Outbreaks, Manitoba, July 12, 2020 – October 28, 2023

Back

Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba

	Sep 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023		Sep 1, 2023 - Oct 28, 2023
Age group	Vaccinated people	Coverage percentage	Vaccinated people	Coverage percentage
0-4	17428	20.6%	2812	3.3%
5-17	37318	16.1%	6885	3.0%
18-49	95732	15.7%	27701	4.6%
50-64	83135	32.0%	27211	10.5%
65+	146359	60.2%	62993	25.9%
All	386209	27.0%	127885	9.0%

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

Back

FluWatchers

Figure 10. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – October 28, 2023

Back

Physician Visits

Figure 11. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – October 28, 2023

Back

Antiviral

Figure 12. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – October 28, 2023

Back

ED Visits

Figure 13. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – October 28, 2023

Back