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 21 (May 19 – May 25, 2024)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on May 30, 2024
Next reporting date: June 7, 2024

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19 Test positivity remains lower than the peak rate observed in the fall (week 45) and fluctuating in recent weeks; all other indicators decreased or remained stable over time. Wastewater surveillance data up to May 23 indicates that viral load levels are low and currently decreasing or showing no change in all regions.		Cases About cases Cases this week: 41 Total cases: 5,458 (July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024) More Analyses Epi curve Age and sex
Testing About testing This week Average daily specimens: 136 Weekly positivity rate: 5.3% Total (July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024) Tested people: 40,221 Population tested: 2.9% Specimens tested: 58,857 Positivity rate: 14.3% More Analyses Provincial testing	Severity About associated severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: 11 ICU admissions3: 2 Deaths7: 2 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024) Hospital admissions: 2,050 ICU admissions: 249 Deaths: Being updated	Outbreaks About outbreaks COVID-19 outbreaks this week In long-term care facilities: 3 In hospitals: 1 In other settings: 0 Total COVID-19 outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024) In long-term care facilities: 222 In hospitals: 75 In other settings: 15 More Analyses Check trend
Seasonal Influenza The number of influenza labs reported for week 21 is likely to be undercounted due to processing delays. The RSV detection and test positivity remain low, in week 21 it decreased compared with the previous week.		Cases Cases this week Influenza A: 1 Influenza B: 7 Total cases (July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024) Influenza A: 2,847 Influenza B: 1,026 More Analyses Check trend
Testing Influenza testing this week Average daily specimens: 119 Influenza A positivity rate: 0.2% Influenza B positivity rate: 1.0% Other respiratory pathogens this week RSV4 positivity rate: 0.4% RSV detections: 3 More Analyses Influenza testing Respiratory detection	Severity Severe outcomes this week Hospital admissions: Unavailable ICU admissions: Unavailable Deaths7: 1 Total severe outcomes (July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024) Hospital admissions: Unavailable ICU admissions: Unavailable Deaths: 71	Outbreaks About outbreaks Influenza outbreaks this week Influenza A: 0 Influenza B: 0 Total influenza outbreaks (July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024) Influenza A: 48 Influenza B: 0 Other outbreaks This week: 3 Total (July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024): 169 More Analyses Check trend
Syndromic Indicators All syndromic indicators have decreased or remained the same compared to the previous week.		FluWatchers About FluWatchers Participants reporting this week: 459 Reporting fever and cough: 0.7% More Analyses Check trend
Physician Visits About sentinel physicians Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 0% 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: 1382 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 or Influenza, but not all have been “caused by” COVID or Influenza. “COVID associated deaths” and “Influenza associated deaths” include persons who had a confirmed positive lab test result for COVID or Influenza, within 30 days before their death, or following their death through a post mortem. The number of deaths from week to week may be impacted by the lag-time for entry of deaths from Vital Statistics/Client Registry/clinical notifications and delayed entry of cases. The number of influenza labs reported after week 50 is likely to be an undercount due to processing delays.

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 – May 25, 2024

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Figure 3. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024

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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 – May 25, 2024

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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 - May 25, 2024		2023 ( Last 6 months, up to May 25, 2024 )
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
00-04	5509	6.5%	4412	5.2%	2185	2.6%
05-17	23430	10.1%	15520	6.7%	5054	2.2%
18-49	78357	12.9%	54036	8.9%	13557	2.2%
50-64	75232	29.0%	62474	24.0%	15035	5.8%
65+	149194	61.4%	138015	56.8%	39109	16.1%
All	357046	25.0%	290003	20.3%	77330	5.4%

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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Testing

Figure 6. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for Influenza by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024

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Figure 7. Number of Positive Respiratory Virus Tests by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 2, 2023 – May 25, 2024

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

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Outbreaks

Figure 8. Weekly Respiratory Outbreaks, Manitoba, July 12, 2020 – May 25, 2024

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Vaccinations

Table 2. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba

	Sep 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023		Sep 1, 2023 - May 25, 2024
Age group	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage	Number Vaccinated	%Coverage
0-4	17483	20.9%	14602	17.5%
5-17	37354	15.7%	31864	13.4%
18-49	95924	15.4%	89665	14.4%
50-64	83201	32.2%	78322	30.4%
65+	146404	58.9%	148604	59.8%
All	386605	26.7%	367678	25.3%

Note. Actual number of people vaccinated between September 1 and May 25, 2024 may be higher due to delays in reporting doses administered.

About vaccination coverage

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FluWatchers

Figure 9. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2019 – May 25, 2024

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Physician Visits

Figure 10. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – May 25, 2024

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 11. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – May 25, 2024

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ED Visits

Figure 12. Weekly Respiratory Visits to Emergency Department, Manitoba, 2017 – May 25, 2024

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