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 49 (December 3 – December 9, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on December 14, 2023
Next reporting date: December 22, 2023

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity COVID-19 activity in week 49 was similar with compared the previous week. Laboratory detection was similar with the previous week. Wastewater surveillance data up to December 5 indicated similar activity in Brandon and Winnipeg.		Cases About cases Cases this week: 208 Total cases: 3,294 (July 2, 2023 – December 9, 2023) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 248 Weekly positivity rate: 18.3% Total (July 2, 2023 – December 9, 2023) Tested people: 19,672 Population tested: 1.4% Specimens tested: 26,533 Positivity rate: 18.8% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 59 ICU admissions3: 7 Deaths: 20 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – December 9, 2023) Hospital admissions: 1,163 ICU admissions: 105 Deaths: 66 More Analyses Severe outcomes	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks this week In long-term care facilities: 2 In hospitals: 3 In other settings: 0 Total COVID-19 outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – December 9, 2023) In long-term care facilities: 121 In hospitals: 36 In other settings: 13 More Analyses Check trend
Seasonal Influenza: Increased Activity Influenza activity in week 49 increased compared with with the previous week. The RSV detection and test positivity in week 49 increased compared with the previous week.		Cases Cases this week Influenza A: 306 Influenza B: 6 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – December 9, 2023) Influenza A: 790 Influenza B: 23 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: 201 Influenza A positivity rate: 18.6% Influenza B positivity rate: 0.1% Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: 3.1% RSV detections: 44 More Analyses Influenza testing Respiratory detection	Severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: unavailable ICU admissions: unavailable Deaths: 2 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – December 9, 2023) Hospital admissions: unavailable ICU admissions: unavailable Deaths: 11	Outbreaks About outbreaks Influenza outbreaks this week Influenza A: 2 Influenza B: 0 Total influenza outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – December 9, 2023) Influenza A: 9 Influenza B: 0 Other outbreaks This week: 1 Total (July 2, 2023 – December 9, 2023): 44 More Analyses Check trend
Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity In week 49 activity in all syndromic indicators decreased compared to the last few weeks. 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 49 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: 509 Reporting fever and cough: 3.5% More Analyses Check trend
Physician Visits About sentinel physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 5.2% More Analyses Check Trend	Antiviral About Antiviral Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies this week: 13 More Analyses Check Trend	ED Visits About emergency room visits Respiratory visits to emergency department (ED) this week: 2196 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. Influenza hospitalizations and ICU cases are currently under review. COVID case counts are under review and maybe an undercount.

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 – December 9, 2023

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Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – December 9, 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 – December 9, 2023

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Severity

Figure 5. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – December 9, 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 - Dec 09, 2023		2023 ( Last 6 months, up to Dec 09, 2023 )
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
00-04	5708	6.8%	3277	3.9%	3900	4.6%
05-17	21539	9.3%	11585	5.0%	12321	5.3%
18-49	75330	12.4%	44097	7.3%	45167	7.4%
50-64	73579	28.3%	53321	20.5%	54552	21.0%
65+	139288	57.3%	114629	47.1%	119911	49.3%
All	320591	22.5%	227366	15.9%	238429	16.7%

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 – December 9, 2023

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Figure 8. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – December 9, 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 – December 9, 2023

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Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba

	Sep 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023		Sep 1, 2023 - Dec 09, 2023
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
0-4	17442	20.7%	10284	12.2%
5-17	37333	16.1%	24808	10.7%
18-49	95779	15.7%	75040	12.3%
50-64	83159	32.0%	68803	26.5%
65+	146383	60.2%	138110	56.8%
All	386337	27.1%	319142	22.3%

Note. Actual number of people vaccinated between September 1 and December 9, 2023 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 – December 9, 2023

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Physician Visits

Figure 11. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – December 9, 2023

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 12. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – December 9, 2023

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ED Visits

Figure 13. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – December 9, 2023

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