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 50 (December 10 – December 16, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on December 21, 2023
Next reporting date: December 29, 2023

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity COVID-19 activity in week 50 was similar with the previous week. Laboratory detection was similar with the previous week. Wastewater surveillance data up to December 12 indicated similar activity in Brandon and Winnipeg.		Cases About cases Cases this week: 212 Total cases: 3,506 (July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 265 Weekly positivity rate: 16.6% Total (July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023) Tested people: 20,954 Population tested: 1.5% Specimens tested: 28,391 Positivity rate: 18.7% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 68 ICU admissions3: 7 Deaths: 10 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023) Hospital admissions: 1,246 ICU admissions: 112 Deaths: Being updated	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks this week In long-term care facilities: 5 In hospitals: 1 In other settings: 0 Total COVID-19 outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023) In long-term care facilities: 127 In hospitals: 37 In other settings: 13 More Analyses Check trend
Seasonal Influenza: The number of influenza labs reported for week 50 is likely to be undercounted due to processing delays. The RSV detection and test positivity in week 50 was similar with the previous week.		Cases Cases this week Influenza A: 267 Influenza B: 3 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023) Influenza A: 1,101 Influenza B: 26 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: 214 Influenza A positivity rate: 18.3% Influenza B positivity rate: 0.3% Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: 3.1% RSV detections: 47 More Analyses Influenza testing Respiratory detection	Severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: Unavailable ICU admissions: Unavailable Deaths: 4 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023) Hospital admissions: Unavailable ICU admissions: Unavailable Deaths: 16	Outbreaks About outbreaks Influenza outbreaks this week Influenza A: 2 Influenza B: 0 Total influenza outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023) Influenza A: 11 Influenza B: 0 Other outbreaks This week: 0 Total (July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023): 44 More Analyses Check trend
Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity In week 50 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 50 was similar with the last few weeks and at the average level during 2017-2019, prior to the pandemic.		FluWatchers About FluWatchers Participants reporting this week: 499 Reporting fever and cough: 4.2% More Analyses Check trend
Physician Visits About sentinel physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 3.2% More Analyses Check Trend	Antiviral About Antiviral Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies this week: 4 More Analyses Check Trend	ED Visits About emergency room visits Respiratory visits to emergency department (ED) this week: 2200 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 are included in hospital admissions, and include adult and pediatric cases. RSV - Respiratory syncytial virus. Influenza associated hospitalizations and associated ICU cases are currently under review. COVID case counts are under review and maybe an undercount. Deaths are reported as “associated with” COVID, but not all have been “caused by” COVID. “COVID associated deaths” include persons who had a confirmed positive lab test result for COVID, within 30 days before their death, or following their death through a post mortem. The number of influenza labs reported for week 50 is likely to be undercounted due to processing delays.

COVID-19

Cases

Figure 1. Weekly Cases of COVID-19 by Season, Manitoba, 2020 – 2024 (July through June)

Back

Figure 2. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023

Back

Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023

Back

Testing

Figure 4. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023

Back

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 16, 2023		2023 ( Last 6 months, up to Dec 16, 2023 )
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
00-04	5678	6.7%	3544	4.2%	4110	4.9%
05-17	21552	9.3%	12460	5.4%	13120	5.6%
18-49	75291	12.4%	46247	7.6%	47191	7.8%
50-64	73515	28.3%	55790	21.5%	56834	21.9%
65+	139411	57.3%	119733	49.2%	123916	51.0%
All	320594	22.5%	238403	16.7%	248134	17.4%

About vaccination coverage

Back

Seasonal Influenza

Cases

Figure 5. Weekly Cases of Influenza by Season, Manitoba, 2019 – 2024 (July through June)

Back

Testing

Figure 6. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for Influenza by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023

Back

Figure 7. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – December 16, 2023

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

Back

Outbreaks

Figure 8. Weekly Respiratory Outbreaks, Manitoba, July 12, 2020 – December 16, 2023

Back

Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba

	Sep 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023		Sep 1, 2023 - Dec 16, 2023
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
0-4	17443	20.7%	11068	13.1%
5-17	37335	16.1%	26204	11.3%
18-49	95780	15.7%	77931	12.8%
50-64	83160	32.0%	71234	27.4%
65+	146383	60.2%	141069	58.0%
All	386342	27.1%	330062	23.1%

Note. Actual number of people vaccinated between September 1 and December 16, 2023 may be higher due to delays in reporting doses administered.

About vaccination coverage

Back

FluWatchers

Figure 9. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – December 16, 2023

Back

Physician Visits

Figure 10. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – December 16, 2023

Note. The total sentinel physicians reporting during week 47 has declined and the rates should be interpreted with caution.

Back

Antiviral

Figure 11. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – December 16, 2023

Back

ED Visits

Figure 12. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – December 16, 2023

Back