These infections can range from mild colds to potentially more severe respiratory diseases, such as influenza, tuberculosis (TB), legionnaires' disease, COVID-19 and emerging threats.
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.
Information on the respiratory surveillance report
PHA has integrated influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 reporting into a report to provide a single overview of the epidemiology of these infections.
The Respiratory Surveillance Report includes:
- Episodes of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 by epidemiological week, and by age and local government district (LGD).
- Overall testing and positivity for influenza, RSV and COVID-19 by epidemiological week, and by age.
- Overall testing and positivity for rhinovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) by epidemiological week.
- Episodes of influenza subtypes by epidemiological week.
- Sentinel and non-sentinel surveillance of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 by epidemiological week, and by age.
- SARS-CoV-2 genomic variants.
- Consultation rates for influenza/influenza-like-illness (‘flu/FLI’), acute respiratory infection (ARI) and COVID-19 by epidemiological week, and by age and Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT).
- Influenza, RSV and COVID-19 care homes outbreaks.
- Influenza, RSV and COVID-19 community-acquired emergency hospital admissions and occupancy by epidemiological week, and by age.
- Medical certificate of cause of death for respiratory-associated deaths and COVID-19 related deaths.
Click here to access the latest respiratory surveillance report
Information on the COVID-19 genomics bulletin
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 (the virus that causes COVID-19) variants can be found in UKHSA’s reports here: