Provincial Respiratory Surveillance Report

COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza

2022-2023


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 52 (December 25 – December 31, 2022)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on January 5, 2023
Next reporting date: January 13, 2023


COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity

COVID-19 activity in week 52 was similar to the previous week. COVID-19 associated hospital admissions in week 52 were similar to the previous week. Overall, laboratory detection decreased compared to the fall of 2022. Older adults continue to be at higher risk for COVID-19 infections and associated hospital admissions and fatalities.

As of December 31, in all Manitoba residents, 77.9% have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, 20.8% have received at least one dose within the last six months.

Wastewater surveillance data by December 26 indicated sustained activity of COVID-19 in Winnipeg and Brandon at lower levels.

Cases

About cases

  • Cases this week: 134
  • Total cases: 7,070
More Analyses

Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 256
  • Weekly positivity rate: 11.1%

Total

  • Tested people: 37,173
  • Population tested: 2.7%
  • Specimens tested: 57,391
  • Positivity rate: 19.8%
More Analyses

Severity

About associated severity

Severe outcomes this week

  • Hospital admissions: 50
    • ICU admissions3: 12
  • Deaths: 0

Total severe outcomes

  • Hospital admissions: 2,297
    • ICU admissions: 284
  • Deaths: 267
More Analyses

Outbreaks

About outbreaks

COVID-19 outbreaks this week

  • In long-term care facilities: NA
  • In hospitals: 5
  • In other settings: 0

Total COVID-19 outbreaks

  • In long-term care facilities: 186
  • In hospitals: 80
  • In other settings: 1
More Analyses

Seasonal Influenza: Decreased Activity

Influenza activity in week 52 continued to decrease from the previous week. This week, influenza A test positivity decreased to 6.0%, lower than 8.5% that was observed nationally. The predominant circulating strain is influenza A (H3N2). Though earlier this season children below the age of five years were observed to have the highest risk for influenza infection compared to other age groups, in week 52, people aged 65 years and older had highest influenza infection rate. At the national level, influenza A detection continued to decrease in the last few weeks. Overall, activity of influenza this season started to increase earlier than would be expected and is now within expected levels for this time of year.

Other respiratory viruses continue to co-circulate. The RSV detection and positivity rate both increased in week 52 from the previous week.

Cases

Cases this week

  • Influenza A: 108
  • Influenza B: 0

Total cases

  • Influenza A: 2,499
  • Influenza B: 2
More Analyses

Testing

Influenza testing this week

  • Average daily specimens: 194
  • Influenza A positivity rate: 6.0%
  • Influenza B positivity rate: 0.0%

Other respiratory pathogens this week

  • RSV4 positivity rate: 10.9%
  • RSV detections: 148
More Analyses

Severity

Severe outcomes this week

  • Hospital admissions: 20
    • ICU admissions: 0
  • Deaths: 2

Total severe outcomes

  • Hospital admissions: 605
    • ICU admissions: 6
  • Deaths: 50
More Analyses

Outbreaks

Influenza outbreaks this week

  • Influenza A: 0
  • Influenza B: 0

Total influenza outbreaks

  • Influenza A: 37
  • Influenza B: 0
More Analyses

Syndromic Indicators: Decreased Activity

In week 52, there appeared to have sustained activity in all syndromic indicators at reduced levels. Data fluctuation in ILI related visits to sentinel physicians was observed due to a small number of submitting sentinel physicians.

Weekly respiratory related visits to emergency departments/urgent care continued to decrease between week 47 and week 51, however, there was an increase in week 52. In young children especially those below the age of five years, the number of hospital admissions following respiratory visits in week 52 increased from the previous week.

FluWatchers

About FluWatchers

Participants reporting this week: 556

Reporting fever and cough: 2.5%

More Analyses

Physician Visits

About sentinel physicians

Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 17.5%

More Analyses

Antiviral

About Antiviral

Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies this week: 4

More Analyses

ED Visits

About emergency room visits

Respiratory visits to emergency department (ED) this week: 1855

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 – 2022 (July through June)

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Figure 2. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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Figure 3. Incidence Rate (/10,000 Population) of COVID-19 Cases by Age Group and Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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Figure 4. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, August 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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Table 1. Cases of COVID-19 and Incidence Rate (/10,000 population) by Health Region, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

Helath region Total cases Cases this week Incidence rate this week Age-standardized incidence rate* this week
Winnipeg RHA 4215 78 1.0 1.0
Southern Health-Santé Sud 673 11 0.5 0.5
Interlake-Eastern RHA 750 18 1.3 1.3
Prairie Mountain Health 954 24 1.4 1.2
Northern Health Region 475 3 0.4 0.6

Note: * Age-standardized rates are used to account for differences in the age structure in health regions. The whole Manitoba population is used as the standard population.

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Testing

Figure 5. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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Severity

Figure 6. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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

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Figure 7. Age Distribution of Severe COVID-19 Cases This Week Compared to All Cases, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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Outbreaks

Figure 8. Weekly COVID-19 Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2020 – 2022

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 2. Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccinations, Manitoba, December 31, 2022

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 9.5% 4.0% 9.5% 0.0%
05-11 55.4% 42.4% 9.5% 0.1%
12-17 82.5% 77.8% 8.9% 5.8%
18-29 88.1% 85.1% 7.6% 6.8%
30-39 84.4% 81.9% 12.4% 11.5%
40-49 87.8% 85.9% 16.6% 15.6%
50-59 87.0% 85.7% 23.1% 20.2%
60-69 94.8% 93.5% 40.4% 36.2%
70-79 >=95.0% >=95.0% 54.3% 50.0%
80+ >=95.0% >=95.0% 55.6% 52.0%
ALL 81.2% 77.9% 20.8% 17.5%

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

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Seasonal Influenza

Cases

Figure 9. Weekly Cases of Influenza by Season, Manitoba, 2019 – 2022 (July through June)

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Figure 10. Incidence Rate (/10,000 Population) of Influenza Cases by Age Group and Week of Public Health Report Date, 2018 – December 31, 2022

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Table 3. Cases of Influenza and Incidence Rate (/10,000 population) by Health Region, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

Helath region Total cases Cases this week Incidence rate this week Age-standardized incidence rate* this week
Winnipeg RHA 1154 56 0.7 0.7
Southern Health-Santé Sud 334 10 0.5 0.5
Interlake-Eastern RHA 324 5 0.4 0.3
Prairie Mountain Health 453 20 1.2 1.1
Northern Health Region 200 16 2.1 2.1

Note: * Age-standardized rates are used to account for differences in the age structure in health regions. The whole Manitoba population is used as the standard population.

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Table 4. Antiviral Susceptibility of Isolates by Influenza Type and Subtype, Canada, September 1 – December 31, 2022

Oseltamivir
Zanamivir
Area Strain Resistant Susceptible Resistant Susceptible
Canada A(H3N2) 0 128 0 128
A(H1N1) 0 12 0 12
Manitoba A(H3N2) 0 100 0 100
A(H1N1) 0 10 0 10
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Table 5. Strain Characterization of Influenza Isolates, Canada, September 1 – December 31, 2022

Strain Canada Manitoba
Influenza A (H3N2)/Darwin/6/2021-like 128 100
Influenza A (H1N1)/Wisconsin/588/2019-like 12 10

Notes: A/Darwin/6/2021-like virus is the H3N2 virus selected for the 2022/23 Northern Hemisphere Influenza vaccine. A/Wisconsin/588/2019-like virus is the recommmended H1N1 component for the 2022-2023 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.

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Testing

Figure 11. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for Influenza by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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Figure 12. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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

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Severity

Figure 13. Severe Outcomes of Influenza by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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

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Figure 14. Age Distribution of Severe Influenza Cases in All Cases, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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Outbreaks

Figure 15. Weekly Respiratory and Influenza Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2019 – December 31, 2022

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 7. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba, September 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022

Age group Does Coverage percentage
0-4 13967 16.4%
5-17 33114 14.5%
18-49 87336 14.7%
50-64 77573 29.9%
65+ 140769 60.2%
All 356214 25.5%

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FluWatchers

Figure 16. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – December 31, 2022

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Physician Visits

Figure 17. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – December 31, 2022

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Antiviral

Figure 18. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – December 31, 2022

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ED Visits

Figure 19. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – December 31, 2022

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