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 12 (March 17 – March 23, 2024)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on March 28, 2024
Next reporting date: April 5, 2024

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19 There were much fewer cases this week than last week (88 vs. 112), but higher severe outcomes. Hospital admissions (+6) and ICU admissions (+2) increased moderately, while deaths increased markedly (13 vs. 7). There were much fewer outbreaks (4 vs. 12), and largely in hospitals (3). Wastewater surveillance data up to March 19 shows the viral load to be decreasing at all sites. Also, except at Winnipeg’s North End where it is moderate, the level at the sites is low.		Cases About cases Cases this week: 88 Total cases: 4,960 (July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 175 Weekly positivity rate: 9.8% Total (July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024) Tested people: 34,123 Population tested: 2.4% Specimens tested: 48,809 Positivity rate: 15.6% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 26 ICU admissions3: 6 Deaths7: 13 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024) Hospital admissions: 1,834 ICU admissions: 188 Deaths: Being updated	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks this week In long-term care facilities: 1 In hospitals: 3 In other settings: 0 Total COVID-19 outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024) In long-term care facilities: 202 In hospitals: 64 In other settings: 15 More Analyses Check trend
Seasonal Influenza The number of influenza labs reported for week 12 is likely to be undercounted due to processing delays. The RSV detection and test positivity in week 12 increased compared with the previous week.		Cases Cases this week Influenza A: 8 Influenza B: 37 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024) Influenza A: 2,537 Influenza B: 273 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: 129 Influenza A positivity rate: 1.2% Influenza B positivity rate: 8.7% Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: 2.8% RSV detections: 25 More Analyses Influenza testing Respiratory detection	Severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: Unavailable ICU admissions: Unavailable Deaths7: 1 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024) Hospital admissions: Unavailable ICU admissions: Unavailable Deaths: 60	Outbreaks About outbreaks Influenza outbreaks this week Influenza A: 0 Influenza B: 0 Total influenza outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024) Influenza A: 42 Influenza B: 0 Other outbreaks This week: 4 Total (July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024): 132 More Analyses Check trend
Syndromic Indicators Respiratory visits to emergency departments increased slightly this week (1479 vs. 1453). All other indicators decreased or remained the same.		FluWatchers About FluWatchers Participants reporting this week: 451 Reporting fever and cough: 1.8% More Analyses Check trend
Physician Visits About sentinel physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 2.2% 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: 1479 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 are included in hospital admissions, and include adult and pediatric cases. RSV - Respiratory syncytial virus. Influenza associated hospitalizations and associated ICU cases are currently under review. COVID case counts are under review and maybe an undercount. Deaths are reported as “associated with” COVID or Influenza, but not all have been “caused by” COVID or Influenza. “COVID associated deaths” and “Influenza associated deaths” include persons who had a confirmed positive lab test result for COVID or Influenza, within 30 days before their death, or following their death through a post mortem. The number of deaths from week to week may be impacted by the lag-time for entry of deaths from Vital Statistics/Client Registry/clinical notifications and delayed entry of cases. The number of influenza labs reported after week 50 is likely to be an undercount due to processing delays.

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 – March 23, 2024

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Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024

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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 – March 23, 2024

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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 - Mar 23, 2024		2023 ( Last 6 months, up to Mar 23, 2024 )
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
00-04	5227	6.2%	4303	5.1%	4355	5.2%
05-17	21627	9.3%	14962	6.4%	15152	6.5%
18-49	74841	12.3%	52716	8.7%	53117	8.7%
50-64	72579	27.9%	61801	23.8%	62138	23.9%
65+	141232	58.1%	132974	54.7%	133504	54.9%
All	320661	22.5%	268520	18.8%	271310	19.0%

About vaccination coverage

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Seasonal Influenza

Cases

Figure 5. Weekly Cases of Influenza by Season, Manitoba, 2019 – 2024 (July through June)

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Testing

Figure 6. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for Influenza by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024

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Figure 7. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – March 23, 2024

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

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Outbreaks

Figure 8. Weekly Respiratory Outbreaks, Manitoba, July 12, 2020 – March 23, 2024

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Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba

	Sep 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023		Sep 1, 2023 - Mar 23, 2024
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
0-4	17468	20.9%	14358	17.2%
5-17	37345	15.7%	31478	13.2%
18-49	95905	15.4%	88469	14.2%
50-64	83203	32.3%	77818	30.2%
65+	146398	58.9%	148050	59.6%
All	386561	26.7%	364572	25.1%

Note. Actual number of people vaccinated between September 1 and March 23, 2024 may be higher due to delays in reporting doses administered.

About vaccination coverage

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FluWatchers

Figure 9. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – March 23, 2024

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Physician Visits

Figure 10. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – March 23, 2024

Note. The total sentinel physicians reporting during week 47 has declined and the rates should be interpreted with caution.

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Antiviral

Figure 11. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – March 23, 2024

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ED Visits

Figure 12. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – March 23, 2024

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