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 41 (October 8 – October 14, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on October 19, 2023
Next reporting date: October 27, 2023

Outbreak reporting is currently under review and will resume mid October.


COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity

COVID-19 activity in week 41 was similar with the previous week. Laboratory detection decreased compared with the previous week.

Wastewater surveillance data up to October 10 indicated increased activity in Brandon and Winnipeg West end. When compared to the fall of 2022, Winnipeg regions have similar activity and Brandon has lower activity.

As of October 14, in all Manitoba residents, 77.1% 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: 149
  • Total cases: 1,418 (July 2, 2023 – October 14, 2023)
More Analyses

Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 189
  • Weekly positivity rate: 18.1%

Total (July 2, 2023 – October 14, 2023)

  • Tested people: 11,464
  • Population tested: 0.8%
  • Specimens tested: 14,534
  • Positivity rate: 15.2%
More Analyses

Severity

About associated severity

Severe outcomes this week

  • Hospital admissions: 37
    • ICU admissions3: 2
  • Deaths: 2

Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – October 14, 2023)

  • Hospital admissions: 456
    • ICU admissions: 41
  • Deaths: 13
More Analyses

Outbreaks

Seasonal Influenza: Low Activity

Influenza activity in week 41 continued to be low at inter-seasonal levels.

The RSV detection and test positivity in week 41 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: 7
  • Influenza B: 0

Total cases (July 2, 2023 – October 14, 2023)

  • Influenza A: 26
  • Influenza B: 10
More Analyses

Testing

Influenza testing this week

  • Average daily specimens: 164
  • Influenza A positivity rate: 0.5%
  • Influenza B positivity rate: 0.0%

Other respiratory pathogens this week

  • RSV4 positivity rate: 0.0%
  • RSV detections: 0
More Analyses

Severity

Severe outcomes this week

  • Hospital admissions: 0
    • ICU admissions: 0
  • Deaths:

Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – October 14, 2023)

  • Hospital admissions: 10
    • ICU admissions: 0
  • Deaths: 0

Outbreaks

Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity

In week 41 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 41 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: 465

Reporting fever and cough: 2.6%

More Analyses

Physician Visits

About sentinel physicians

Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 1.2%

More Analyses

Antiviral

About Antiviral

Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies this week: 0

More Analyses

ED Visits

About emergency room visits

Respiratory visits to emergency department (ED) this week: 1505

More Analyses

Important Notes

  1. Data about COVID-19 and influenza cases are extracted from PHIMS.
  2. 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.
  3. ICU admissions were included in hospital admissions, and include adult and pediatric cases.
  4. 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 – October 14, 2023

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Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 14, 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 – October 14, 2023

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Severity

Figure 5. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 14, 2023

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

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Vaccination

Table 1. Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccinations, Manitoba, October 14, 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 9.9% 6.4% 1.9% 0.1%
05-11 49.6% 38.1% 1.0% 2.2%
12-17 80.5% 74.4% 0.7% 7.5%
18-29 86.2% 83.3% 0.6% 8.4%
30-39 83.1% 80.6% 1.0% 13.4%
40-49 87.9% 86.0% 1.4% 18.6%
50-59 85.2% 83.9% 2.2% 24.5%
60-69 >=95.0% 94.1% 6.1% 44.8%
70-79 102% 101% 12.8% 63.3%
80+ >=95.0% >=95.0% 15.7% 65.3%
ALL 80.2% 77.1% 3.2% 21.8%

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

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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 – October 14, 2023

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Figure 8. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – October 14, 2023

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

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Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba, September 1, 2022 – October 14, 2023

Age group Doses Coverage percentage
0-4 17695 21.0%
5-17 37893 16.3%
18-49 98766 16.2%
50-64 84635 32.6%
65+ 148631 61.1%
All 416144 29.1%

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FluWatchers

Figure 9. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – October 14, 2023

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Physician Visits

Figure 10. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – October 14, 2023

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Antiviral

Figure 11. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – October 14, 2023

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ED Visits

Figure 12. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – October 14, 2023

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