NOTE: We have transitioned into a new season (July 2023-June 2024) for reporting of COVID-19 and influenza. Due to small numbers at the start of this current season, a number of figures and graphs are unavailable.

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 36 (September 3 – September 9, 2023)

About epidemiological week

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

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity COVID-19 activity in week 36 activity was similar with the previous week. The number of reported cases increased compared with the previous week. The number of COVID-19 associated hospital admissions, number of COVID-19 associated ICU admissions and number of COVID-19 associated deaths all were similar with the previous week. Overall, laboratory detection increased since the new season. Wastewater surveillance data up to September 5 indicated similar activity of COVID-19 in Winnipeg and Brandon at lower levels compared to the fall of 2022. As of September 9, in all Manitoba residents, 77.2% have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, 21.8% have received at least one dose of bivalent vaccine.		Cases About cases Cases this week: 137 Total cases: 559 (July 2, 2023 – September 9, 2023) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 157 Weekly positivity rate: 18.1% Total (July 2, 2023 – September 9, 2023) Tested people: 6,579 Population tested: 0.5% Specimens tested: 8,008 Positivity rate: 10.8% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 25 ICU admissions3: 2 Deaths: 0 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – September 9, 2023) Hospital admissions: 195 ICU admissions: 21 Deaths: 4 More Analyses Severe outcomes	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks this week In long-term care facilities: In hospitals: 0 In other settings: 0 Total COVID-19 outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – September 9, 2023) In long-term care facilities: 0 In hospitals: 0 In other settings: 0 More Analyses Check trend
Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity Influenza activity in week 36 continued to be low at inter-seasonal levels. The RSV detection and testing positive rate in week 36 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: 1 Influenza B: 0 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – September 9, 2023) Influenza A: 14 Influenza B: 6 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: 149 Influenza A positivity rate: 0.1% Influenza B positivity rate: 0.0% Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: 0.0% RSV detections: 0 More Analyses Influenza testing Respiratory detection	Severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 0 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – September 9, 2023) Hospital admissions: 8 ICU admissions: 0 Deaths: 0	Outbreaks Influenza outbreaks this week Influenza A: 0 Influenza B: 0 Total influenza outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – September 9, 2023) Influenza A: 0 Influenza B: 0 More Analyses Check trend
Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity In week 36, there continued to have sustained activity in all syndromic indicators 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 36 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: 461 Reporting fever and cough: 1.1% More Analyses Check trend
Physician Visits About sentinel physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 1.7% 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: 1253 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 – September 9, 2023

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

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Severity

Figure 5. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – September 9, 2023

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

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Outbreaks

Figure 6. Weekly COVID-19 Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2020 – 2024

Note: All respiratory outbreaks include COVID-19 outbreaks, influenza outbreaks and the other respiratory outbreaks with known or unknown pathogens.

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Vaccination

Table 1. Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccinations, Manitoba, September 9, 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	10.1%	6.5%	2.3%	0.1%
05-11	50.4%	38.7%	1.1%	2.2%
12-17	80.8%	74.9%	0.6%	7.6%
18-29	86.5%	83.5%	0.5%	8.4%
30-39	83.2%	80.7%	0.6%	13.5%
40-49	87.8%	85.9%	0.8%	18.6%
50-59	85.4%	84.1%	1.4%	24.7%
60-69	>=95.0%	94.1%	5.0%	44.8%
70-79	102%	101%	12.3%	63.1%
80+	>=95.0%	>=95.0%	17.7%	65.2%
ALL	80.4%	77.2%	2.9%	21.8%

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

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Seasonal Influenza

Cases

Figure 7. Weekly Cases of Influenza by Season, Manitoba, 2019 – 2024 (July through June)

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Testing

Figure 8. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for Influenza by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – September 9, 2023

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Figure 9. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – September 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 10. Weekly Respiratory and Influenza Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2018 – September 9, 2023

Note: All respiratory outbreaks include COVID-19 outbreaks, influenza outbreaks and the other respiratory outbreaks with known or unknown pathogens.

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Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba, September 1, 2022 – September 9, 2023

Age group	Doses	Coverage percentage
0-4	17464	20.7%
5-17	37436	16.1%
18-49	96696	15.9%
50-64	83345	32.1%
65+	146560	60.3%
All	387781	27.2%

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FluWatchers

Figure 11. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – September 9, 2023

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Physician Visits

Figure 12. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – September 9, 2023

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Antiviral

Figure 13. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – September 9, 2023

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ED Visits

Figure 14. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – September 9, 2023

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