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 46 (November 12 – November 18, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on November 23, 2023
Next reporting date: December 1, 2023

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity COVID-19 activity in week 46 was similar with the previous week. Laboratory detection increased compared with the previous week. Wastewater surveillance data up to November 14 indicated increased activity in Brandon and Winnipeg.		Cases About cases Cases this week: 312 Total cases: 2,604 (July 2, 2023 – November 18, 2023) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 220 Weekly positivity rate: 28.2% Total (July 2, 2023 – November 18, 2023) Tested people: 16,376 Population tested: 1.2% Specimens tested: 21,694 Positivity rate: 18.2% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 78 ICU admissions3: 12 Deaths: 1 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – November 18, 2023) Hospital admissions: 859 ICU admissions: 66 Deaths: 23 More Analyses Severe outcomes	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks this week In long-term care facilities: 8 In hospitals: 1 In other settings: 0 Total COVID-19 outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – November 18, 2023) In long-term care facilities: 103 In hospitals: 17 In other settings: 13 More Analyses Check trend
Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity Influenza activity in week 46 increased compared with the previous week. The RSV detection and test positivity in week 46 increased compared with the previous week. The national activity level observed for both influenza A and B was low.		Cases Cases this week Influenza A: 70 Influenza B: 0 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – November 18, 2023) Influenza A: 156 Influenza B: 14 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: 198 Influenza A positivity rate: 5.6% Influenza B positivity rate: 0.0% Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: 0.8% RSV detections: 11 More Analyses Influenza testing Respiratory detection	Severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 14 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: 0 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – November 18, 2023) Hospital admissions: 37 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: 1	Outbreaks About outbreaks Influenza outbreaks this week Influenza A: 0 Influenza B: 0 Total influenza outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – November 18, 2023) Influenza A: 2 Influenza B: 0 Other outbreaks This week: 5 Total (July 2, 2023 – November 18, 2023): 40 More Analyses Check trend
Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity In week 46 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 46 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: 486 Reporting fever and cough: 1.9% More Analyses Check trend
Physician Visits About sentinel physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 2.9% More Analyses Check Trend	Antiviral About Antiviral Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies this week: 0 More Analyses Check Trend	ED Visits About emergency room visits Respiratory visits to emergency department (ED) this week: 1606 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 – November 18, 2023

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Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – November 18, 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 – November 18, 2023

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Severity

Figure 5. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – November 18, 2023

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

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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 - Nov 18, 2023		2023 ( Last 6 months, up to Nov 18, 2023 )
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
00-04	5808	6.9%	2172	2.6%	3082	3.7%
05-17	21514	9.3%	7620	3.3%	8685	3.7%
18-49	75422	12.4%	32660	5.4%	34283	5.6%
50-64	73769	28.4%	39987	15.4%	42014	16.2%
65+	138900	57.1%	89250	36.7%	100376	41.3%
All	320559	22.4%	171863	12.0%	190996	13.4%

About vaccination coverage

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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 – November 18, 2023

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Figure 8. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – November 18, 2023

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

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Outbreaks

Figure 9. Weekly Respiratory Outbreaks, Manitoba, July 12, 2020 – November 18, 2023

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Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba

	Sep 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023		Sep 1, 2023 - Nov 18, 2023
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
0-4	17434	20.7%	7429	8.8%
5-17	37326	16.1%	18133	7.8%
18-49	95759	15.7%	59205	9.7%
50-64	83150	32.0%	55863	21.5%
65+	146375	60.2%	118661	48.8%
All	386283	27.1%	260358	18.2%

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

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FluWatchers

Figure 10. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – November 18, 2023

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Physician Visits

Figure 11. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – November 18, 2023

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Antiviral

Figure 12. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – November 18, 2023

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ED Visits

Figure 13. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – November 18, 2023

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