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 44 (October 29 – November 4, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on November 9, 2023
Next reporting date: November 17, 2023

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity COVID-19 activity in week 44 was similar with the previous week. Laboratory detection increased compared with the previous week. Wastewater surveillance data up to October 30 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.		Cases About cases Cases this week: 240 Total cases: 2,033 (July 2, 2023 – November 4, 2023) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 205 Weekly positivity rate: 24.2% Total (July 2, 2023 – November 4, 2023) Tested people: 14,376 Population tested: 1% Specimens tested: 18,762 Positivity rate: 16.6% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 63 ICU admissions3: 3 Deaths: 0 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – November 4, 2023) Hospital admissions: 647 ICU admissions: 48 Deaths: 22 More Analyses Severe outcomes	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks this week In long-term care facilities: 7 In hospitals: 2 In other settings: 0 Total COVID-19 outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – November 4, 2023) In long-term care facilities: 90 In hospitals: 14 In other settings: 12 More Analyses Check trend
Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity Influenza activity in week 44 continued to be low at inter-seasonal levels. The RSV detection and test positivity in week 44 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: 12 Influenza B: 1 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – November 4, 2023) Influenza A: 53 Influenza B: 11 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: 186 Influenza A positivity rate: 0.5% Influenza B positivity rate: 0.0% Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: 0.5% RSV detections: 7 More Analyses Influenza testing Respiratory detection	Severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 0 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – November 4, 2023) Hospital admissions: 15 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: 0	Outbreaks About outbreaks Influenza outbreaks this week Influenza A: 0 Influenza B: 0 Total influenza outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – November 4, 2023) Influenza A: 2 Influenza B: 0 Other outbreaks This week: 2 Total (July 2, 2023 – November 4, 2023): 30 More Analyses Check trend
Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity In week 44 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 44 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: 369 Reporting fever and cough: 2.2% More Analyses Check trend
Physician Visits About sentinel physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 2.1% 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: 1424 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 – November 4, 2023

Back

Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – November 4, 2023

Back

Testing

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

Back

Severity

Figure 5. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – November 4, 2023

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

Back

Vaccination

Table 1. Fall COVID-19 Campaign Coverage (at least 1 dose) and Coverage in the Last Six Months by Age Group

	Sep 1, 2022 - Feb 28, 2023		Sep 1, 2023 - Nov 04, 2023		2023 ( Last 6 months, up to Nov 04, 2023 )
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
00-04	5881	7.0%	1094	1.3%	2209	2.6%
05-17	21481	9.2%	3815	1.6%	5092	2.2%
18-49	75503	12.4%	19214	3.2%	21276	3.5%
50-64	73898	28.4%	23821	9.2%	26471	10.2%
65+	138638	57.0%	55286	22.7%	70405	29.0%
All	320548	22.4%	103311	7.2%	127868	9.0%

About vaccination coverage

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 – November 4, 2023

Back

Figure 8. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – November 4, 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 – November 4, 2023

Back

Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba

	Sep 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023		Sep 1, 2023 - Nov 04, 2023
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
0-4	17428	20.6%	4505	5.3%
5-17	37318	16.1%	10781	4.6%
18-49	95738	15.7%	39994	6.6%
50-64	83140	32.0%	38965	15.0%
65+	146364	60.2%	86965	35.8%
All	386224	27.0%	181737	12.7%

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

About vaccination coverage

Back

FluWatchers

Figure 10. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – November 4, 2023

Back

Physician Visits

Figure 11. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – November 4, 2023

Back

Antiviral

Figure 12. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – November 4, 2023

Back

ED Visits

Figure 13. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – November 4, 2023

Back