Respiratory infections

Respiratory infections, encompassing a wide range of illnesses affecting the respiratory system, present significant challenges to public health. These infections can range from mild colds to potentially more severe respiratory diseases, such as influenza, tuberculosis, legionnaires' disease and emerging threats like COVID-19. Rapid transmission, potential for outbreaks, and significant morbidity and mortality rates underscore the critical importance of robust surveillance systems in promptly detecting and responding to these infections.

Surveillance of respiratory infections is a critical public health tool that facilitates early detection, informed decision-making, and effective responses to protect the population's health. By continually monitoring and analysing data, the Public Health Agency can strengthen their preparedness and ability to mitigate the impact of respiratory infections on communities in Northern Ireland. Further information on respiratory infections, including COVID-19 can be found on NI Direct. 

Information on whole genome sequencing

As part of the COVID-19 pandemic response, the Public Health Agency Health Protection Surveillance team established a new surveillance system to monitor SARS-CoV-2 genomic variants. The Surveillance team used reflex assay (genotyping) to screen for variants of concern, and used whole genome sequencing results to monitor the prevalence of genomic lineages, which provided a more detailed view of the genome. The team also used transmission chain analysis to provide predictions on potential transmission events, in order to identify the source of infection and help reduce the chance of more transmission.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, variants in Northern Ireland were identified using genomic surveillance. This information was used to advise public health action in controlling the spread of COVID-19. Screening for variants continues to be important for making informed public health decisions, particularly if we identify a variant shown to cause more severe illness, or if vaccines might not offer as much protection against a new variant.

Further information about SARS-CoV-2 variants can be found in UKHSA’s reports here:


Click on the tabs below to access weekly bulletins:

 

Click here for COVID-19 Epidemiological Bulletin

This weekly report outlines the recent epidemiology of COVID-19 disease in Northern Ireland (NI), along with information about the genomic lineages (variants) of cases, the number of COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes and deaths. It links to other sources of information about SARS-CoV-2 genomics and COVID-19 vaccinations.

From week 45, 2023, a new Laboratory Information System (LIMS) is being implemented across Northern Ireland and validation is ongoing. Therefore, results should be interpreted with caution.

1 Summary

  • In the week ending September 29 2024 (Week 39), the number of new infection episodes detected through clinical and routine testing was 154, a decrease when compared to 191 in the previous week.

  • There has been a decrease in the number of confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes in the current week compared to the previous week.

  • There has been an increase in the number of community acquired emergency COVID-19 hospital admissions in the current week compared to the previous week.

  • There is a general decreasing trend in the number of community acquired emergency COVID-19 inpatients in recent weeks.

  • In the week ending September 20 2024, there were 6 COVID-19 registered deaths; a decrease when compared to the previous week.

2 Incidence and prevalence of COVID-19

2.1 Episodes of COVID-19

Infection episodes detected through clinical testing reveal only a small fraction of the true number of cases, because only a minority of people who have COVID-19 disease are tested. We continue to monitor these because an increase may indicate increasing incidence or severity.

The number of new episodes is shown by week overall (Figure 2.1), as a rate per 100,000 population by age band over time (Figure 2.2), as a rate per 100,000 population by local government district (LGD) for the most recent week in bar plot (Figure 2.3) and over a six week period (Figure 2.4). Supplementary tables of key figures are shown at the end of this document. There has been a decrease in the number of new episodes in the current week, with 154 episodes identified in week 39 compared to 191 in the previous week. All age groups saw a decrease in episode rates when compared to the previous week, except the 20-29 and the 60-69 age groups, which saw an increase in episode rates. The 30-39 and 80+ age groups saw no change. The highest episode rates per 100,000 population remain in the 80+ year-olds (39.2 per 100,000 population). Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim and Newry, Mourne and Down all saw an increase in episode rates compared to the previous week. All other LGDs saw a decrease in episode rates, except for Mid Ulster, which saw no change.

Testing policy changes over time in NI will have an impact on the proportion of COVID-19 cases detected and may affect case rates and other indicators presented in this report. Since 2022, testing of most of the general population with COVID-19 symptoms has no longer been advised. This reduced volume of testing is consistent with the rest of the UK.

Weekly number of unique episodes of COVID-19, by epidemiological week

Figure 2.1: Weekly number of unique episodes of COVID-19, by epidemiological week