The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recorded higher weekly hospital admission rates for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 in England, while influenza measures changed little, in surveillance data covering Oct. 5-11. The agency published the report Oct. 15.
The report’s “week 42” label identifies the edition; its respiratory figures cover week 41, Oct. 5-11. A separate UKHSA norovirus and rotavirus bulletin counts reports over Sept. 28-Oct. 11, a two-week period.
Among 17 participating NHS trusts, the RSV hospital admission rate excluding intensive care and high-dependency units rose to 0.23 per 100,000 trust-catchment population from 0.13 a week earlier. UKHSA’s summary laboratory indicator rose to 1.0% from 0.4%. Although both measures increased, the agency placed RSV circulation at baseline levels.
COVID-19’s weekly admission rate climbed to 2.46 per 100,000 trust-catchment population from 2.13. Hospital PCR positivity eased to 8.8% from 9.0%, and admissions to intensive care or high-dependency units held at 0.06 per 100,000 trust-catchment population.
Influenza laboratory positivity slipped to 6.0% from 6.2%, while hospital admissions stayed at 1.88 per 100,000 trust-catchment population. UKHSA said emergency visits connected with flu-like illness barely changed from the previous week but remained above seasonal expectations. The agency assessed overall influenza activity as remaining at baseline.
The separate bulletin counted 168 positive norovirus laboratory reports in England from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11, 18.6% below the five-season average of 206. Across the 2026/27 season through week 41, the total was 1,631 reports, 28.1% above the comparable average of 1,273. UKHSA’s five-season comparison uses 2018/19 and the four seasons from 2022/23 through 2025/26; it excludes 2019/20 through 2021/22 because the pandemic affected surveillance.
Rotavirus reports totaled 73 over the two weeks, 19.7% above the five-season average of 61. UKHSA also counted 17 hospital norovirus outbreaks through week 41, 25.4% below the average of 23. The agency said delayed laboratory reports may add to recent norovirus totals. Its respiratory report draws on community, primary-care, hospital and mortality surveillance.
