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 51 (December 17 – December 23, 2023)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on December 28, 2023
Next reporting date: January 5, 2024

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity COVID-19 activity in week 51 was similar with the previous week. Laboratory detection decreased compared to the previous week. Wastewater surveillance data up to December 14 indicated similar activity in Brandon and Winnipeg.		Cases About cases Cases this week: 151 Total cases: 3,656 (July 2, 2023 – December 23, 2023) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 276 Weekly positivity rate: 13.5% Total (July 2, 2023 – December 23, 2023) Tested people: 22,310 Population tested: 1.6% Specimens tested: 30,323 Positivity rate: 18.3% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 59 ICU admissions3: 4 Deaths: 18 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – December 23, 2023) Hospital admissions: 1,318 ICU admissions: 118 Deaths: Being updated	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks this week In long-term care facilities: 9 In hospitals: 2 In other settings: 0 Total COVID-19 outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – December 23, 2023) In long-term care facilities: 138 In hospitals: 40 In other settings: 13 More Analyses Check trend
Seasonal Influenza: Similar Activity The number of influenza labs reported for week 51 is likely to be undercounted due to processing delays.		Cases Cases this week Influenza A: 172 Influenza B: 3 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – December 23, 2023) Influenza A: 1,283 Influenza B: 30 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: Unavailable Influenza A positivity rate: Unavailable Influenza B positivity rate: Unavailable Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: Unavailable RSV detections: Unavailable	Severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: Unavailable ICU admissions: Unavailable Deaths: 2 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – December 23, 2023) Hospital admissions: Unavailable ICU admissions: Unavailable Deaths: 18	Outbreaks About outbreaks Influenza outbreaks this week Influenza A: 3 Influenza B: 0 Total influenza outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – December 23, 2023) Influenza A: 15 Influenza B: 0 Other outbreaks This week: 0 Total (July 2, 2023 – December 23, 2023): 45 More Analyses Check trend
Syndromic Indicators: Low Activity In week 51 activity in all syndromic indicators was similar with 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 51 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: 443 Reporting fever and cough: 2.5% More Analyses Check trend
Physician Visits About sentinel physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 1.4% More Analyses Check Trend	Antiviral About Antiviral Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies this week: 14 More Analyses Check Trend	ED Visits About emergency room visits Respiratory visits to emergency department (ED) this week: 2167 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 51 is likely to be undercounted due to processing delays. The number of influenza testing reported for week 51 is currently under review due to data delay.

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 23, 2023

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Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – December 23, 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 23, 2023

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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 23, 2023		2023 ( Last 6 months, up to Dec 23, 2023 )
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
00-04	5647	6.7%	3652	4.3%	4143	4.9%
05-17	21563	9.3%	12907	5.6%	13484	5.8%
18-49	75265	12.4%	47689	7.8%	48507	8.0%
50-64	73462	28.3%	57270	22.0%	58151	22.4%
65+	139519	57.4%	122377	50.3%	125706	51.7%
All	320603	22.5%	244593	17.1%	252694	17.7%

About vaccination coverage

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Seasonal Influenza

Cases

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

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Outbreaks

Figure 6. Weekly Respiratory Outbreaks, Manitoba, July 12, 2020 – December 23, 2023

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Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba

	Sep 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023		Sep 1, 2023 - Dec 23, 2023
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
0-4	17446	20.7%	11447	13.6%
5-17	37335	16.1%	26965	11.6%
18-49	95782	15.7%	79781	13.1%
50-64	83163	32.0%	72555	27.9%
65+	146385	60.2%	142621	58.7%
All	386353	27.1%	336124	23.5%

Note. Actual number of people vaccinated between September 1 and December 23, 2023 may be higher due to delays in reporting doses administered.

About vaccination coverage

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FluWatchers

Figure 7. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – December 23, 2023

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Physician Visits

Figure 8. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – December 23, 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 9. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – December 23, 2023

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ED Visits

Figure 10. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – December 23, 2023

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