2.1 Episodes of influenza, RSV and COVID-19

The number of new influenza episodes remained stable in week 09, with 30 unique episodes identified. This is the same number reported in week 08. There were 36 new RSV episodes identified in week 09, a decrease from week 08 when 72 episodes were identified (Figure 2.1).

Influenza and RSV episode rates by age groups are shown in (Figure 2.2). The highest influenza episode rate in week 09 was in 0-4 age group (9.3 per 100,000 population). The highest RSV episode rate in week 09 was also in the 0-4 age group (12.1 per 100,000 population).

Influenza and RSV episode rates across local government districts (LGD) are shown in (Figure 2.3). Belfast had the highest influenza episode rate in week 09 (2.8 per 100,000 population). Derry City and Strabane had the highest RSV episode rate in week 09 (3.9 per 100,000 population).

The number of new COVID-19 episodes decreased in week 09, with 39 unique episodes identified. There were 74 episodes reported in week 08 (Figure 2.1).

COVID-19 episode rates by age groups are shown in (Figure 2.2). The highest COVID-19 episode rate in week 09 was in the 0-4 age group (11.2 per 100,000 population).

COVID-19 episode rates across LGD are shown in (Figure 2.3). Fermanagh and Omagh had the highest COVID-19 episode rate in week 09 (4.2 per 100,000 population).

Supplementary tables of unique episodes and weekly episode rates are shown at the end of this report.

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

Figure 2.2: Weekly episode rates of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 per 100,000 population, by age group and epidemiological week

Figure 2.3: Weekly episode rates of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 per 100,000 population, by local government district and epidemiological week

2.2 Testing and positivity (%)

In week 09 there were 1,654 influenza tests, 34 of which were positive (2.1% positivity). This is slightly higher than week 08 (1.9% positivity) (Figure 2.4). Influenza positivity in week 09 was highest in the 0-4 age group (4.0% positivity) (Figure 2.5).

There were 1,060 RSV tests, 42 of which were positive (4.0% positivity). This is a decrease from week 08 (6.9% positivity) (Figure 2.4). RSV positivity in week 09 was highest in the 0-4 age group (10.8% positivity) (Figure 2.5).

There were 1,762 COVID-19 tests, 44 of which were positive (2.5% positivity). This is a decrease from week 08 (4.3% positivity) (Figure 2.4). COVID-19 positivity in week 09 was highest in the 5-14 age group (5.7% positivity) (Figure 2.5).

Supplementary tables of testing and positivity are shown at the end of this report.

Figure 2.4: Weekly positivity for influenza, RSV and COVID-19, by epidemiological week

Shading represents 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 2.5: Weekly positivity for influenza, RSV and COVID-19, by age group and epidemiological week

Shading represents 95% confidence intervals.

In week 09 there were 420 rhinovirus tests, 52 of which were positive (12.4% positivity). This is an increase from week 08 (9.3% positivity) (Figure 2.6).

There were 420 adenovirus tests, 14 of which were positive (3.3% positivity). This is an increase from week 08 (2.3% positivity) (Figure 2.6).

There were 420 parainfluenza tests, 16 of which were positive (3.8% positivity). This is an increase from week 08 (2.3% positivity) (Figure 2.6).

There were 419 human metapneumovirus (hMPV) tests, 17 of which were positive (4.1% positivity). This is an increase from week 08 (2.8% positivity) (Figure 2.6).

Figure 2.6: Weekly positivity for rhinovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza and Human metapneumovirus, by year and epidemiological week

Shading represents 95% confidence intervals.

2.3 Influenza sub-typing

Of the 30 new influenza episodes identified in week 09, four were typed as Flu A (H1), two were Flu A (H3), 21 were Flu A (not subtyped) and three was Flu B (Figure 2.7).

A supplementary table of influenza sub-typing is shown at the end of this report.

Figure 2.7: Weekly number of unique episodes of influenza, by subtype and epidemiological week

2.4 Sentinel surveillance

Sentinel surveillance plays a role in monitoring and understanding the spread and impact of respiratory viruses like influenza and COVID-19 in the community. It involves a systematic and targeted approach to collect data from a geographical representative subset of GP practices (~15% population representative) to provide information about virus activity across Northern Ireland.

In week 09, no samples were positive for influenza from nine samples submitted for testing to the Regional Virus Laboratory (RVL). Two samples were positive for RSV from nine samples submitted for testing (22.2% positivity), and no samples were positive for COVID-19 from nine samples submitted for testing (Table 1).

Total sentinel cases of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 by age group for the previous year are shown in (Figure 2.8), (Figure 2.9) and (Figure 2.10), and cumulatively for the 2025/26 influenza season in Table 2.

A supplementary table of testing and positivity is shown at the end of this report.

Figure 2.8: Weekly sentinel influenza cases, by age group and epidemiological week

Figure 2.9: Weekly sentinel RSV cases, by age group and epidemiological week

Figure 2.10: Weekly sentinel COVID-19 cases, by age group and epidemiological week

2.5 Non-sentinel surveillance

Non-sentinel surveillance is the monitoring of respiratory viruses from virology data collected from settings such as hospitals and GPs (excluding the sentinel GPs). This provides information about virus activity across Northern Ireland.

In week 09, 34 samples were positive for influenza from 1,645 samples submitted for testing to laboratories across Northern Ireland (2.1% positivity). Of these, six were typed as Flu A (H1), four were Flu A (H3), 21 were Flu A (not subtyped) and three were Flu B. 40 samples were positive for RSV from 1,051 samples submitted for testing (3.8% positivity). 44 samples were positive for COVID-19 from 1,753 samples submitted for testing (2.5% positivity) (Table 3).

Total non-sentinel cases of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 by age group for the previous year are shown in (Figure 2.8), (Figure 2.9) and (Figure 2.13), and cumulatively for the 2025/26 influenza season in Table 4.

A supplementary table of testing and positivity is shown at the end of this report.

Figure 2.11: Weekly non-sentinel influenza cases, by age group and epidemiological week

Figure 2.12: Weekly non-sentinel RSV cases, by age group and epidemiological week

Figure 2.13: Weekly non-sentinel COVID-19 cases, by age group and epidemiological week

2.6 SARS-CoV-2 variants

In the 8 weeks 22 December 2025 to 15 February 2026, 120 COVID-19 samples were sequenced. Of these, 50 were BA.3.2 (41.7% of all sequenced samples), 29 were XFG (24.2% of all sequenced samples), 26 were XFG.3 (21.7% of all sequenced samples), 10 were NB.1.8.1 (8.3% of all sequenced samples), and 1 was BA.3 and JN.1 (both 0.8% of all sequenced samples). Due to small numbers of samples sequenced, the level of confidence in precision of the estimate is low, and the percentages of each variant may change as further results become available. A more detailed COVID-19 Genomics Bulletin containing a further breakdown of sub-lineages is published weekly.

Parent lineages displayed are subject to change based on lineages under monitoring by the UKHSA horizon scanning team.

Figure 2.14: Total number of sequenced variants of COVID-19 by Pangolin lineage, by epidemiological week

Recombinant refers to any recombinant lineage, starting “X”, that does not fall under the parent lineage of a defined variant.

3.1 Consultation rates for influenza/influenza-like-illness (‘flu/ILI’)

The general practice (GP) flu/ILI consultation rate during week 09 was 4.6 per 100,000 population. This is a decrease from 08 (6.2 per 100,000 population). Rates are at baseline activity levels (<10.7 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.1).

The highest rate in week 09 was in the 0-4 age group (7.9 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.2).

The highest rate in week 09 was in the Western Trust (9.1 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.3).

Supplementary tables of GP consultation rates are shown at the end of this report.

Figure 3.1: Northern Ireland GP consultation rates for ‘flu/ILI’, 2021/22 – 2024/25

The baseline MEM threshold for Northern Ireland is <10.7 per 100,000 population for 2025/26. Low activity is 10.7 to <25.8, moderate activity 25.8 to <55.2, high activity 55.2 to <77.1 and very high activity is >77.1 per 100,000 population.

Figure 3.2: GP consultation rates for ‘flu/ILI’, by age group, 2022/23 – 2025/26

Figure 3.3: GP consultation rates for ‘flu/ILI’, by HSCT, 2022/23 – 2025/26

3.2 Consultation rates for acute respiratory infection (ARI)

The GP ARI consultation rate during week 09 was 199.6 per 100,000 population. This is a decrease from week 08 (201.7 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.4).

The highest rate in week 09 was in the 0-4 age group (777.6 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.5).

The highest rate in week 09 was in the Western Trust (270.8 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.6).

Supplementary tables of GP consultation rates are shown at the end of this report.

Figure 3.4: Northern Ireland GP consultation rates for ARI, 2022/23 – 2025/26

Figure 3.5: GP consultation rates for ARI, by age group, 2022/23 – 2025/26

Figure 3.6: GP consultation rates for ARI, by HSCT, 2022/23 – 2025/26

3.3 Consultation rates for COVID-19

The GP COVID-19 consultation rate during week 09 was 0.5 per 100,000 population. This is a slight decrease when compared to week 08 (0.8 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.7).

The highest rate in week 09 was in the 0-4 age group (3.0 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.8).

The highest rate in week 09 was in the Northern Trust (0.8 per 100,000 population) (Figure 3.9).

Supplementary tables of GP consultation rates are shown at the end of this report.

Figure 3.7: Northern Ireland GP consultation rates for COVID-19, 2022/23 – 2025/26

Figure 3.8: GP consultation rates for COVID-19, by age group, 2022/23 – 2025/26

Figure 3.9: GP consultation rates for COVID-19, by HSCT, 2022/23 – 2025/26

4.1 Influenza, RSV and COVID-19 care homes outbreaks

There were no confirmed outbreaks reported in care home settings to the Public Health Agency (PHA) Health Protection Acute Response Duty Room in week 09. In week 08 there were also no confirmed outbreaks reported in care home settings (Figure 4.1).

Figure 4.1: Weekly number of confirmed influenza, RSV and COVID-19 outbreaks, by epidemiological week

5.1 Admissions and occupancy

There were 40 new community-acquired emergency hospital admissions during week 09 (Figure 5.1). Of these, 12 were Flu A, one was Flu B, 13 were RSV and 14 were COVID-19. In week 08 there were 64 hospital admissions. Of these, seven were Flu A, 34 were RSV and 23 were COVID-19.

Community-acquired emergency hospital admission rates in week 09 were highest in the 0-4 age group for influenza, RSV and COVID-19 (5.6 per 100,000 population, respectively) (Figure 5.2).

Supplementary tables of emergency hospital admissions and rates by age group are shown at the end of this report.

Figure 5.1: Weekly number of community-acquired emergency influenza, RSV and COVID-19 hospital admissions, by epidemiological week

Figure 5.2: Weekly community-acquired emergency influenza, RSV and COVID-19 hospital admission rates per 100,000 population, by age group and epidemiological week

Community-acquired emergency influenza and COVID-19 inpatients have decreased, while RSV inpatients have remained stable (Figure 5.3). Community-acquired emergency inpatients by age group for the previous year are shown in (Figure 5.4).

Figure 5.3: Influenza, RSV and COVID-19 community acquired emergency inpatients, by day

Figure 5.4: Influenza, RSV and COVID-19 community acquired emergency inpatients, by age group and day

6.1 Deaths related to influenza and/or pneumonia

NISRA death statistics are published weekly. These statistics report on deaths where influenza and/or pneumonia was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate. As a result, the counts will reflect deaths where influenza or pneumonia has contributed to a death but was not necessarily the underlying cause of the death.

The latest data is available for week ending 20 February 2026. In week 08, there were 69 influenza and/or pneumonia related deaths out of 352 deaths reported (19.6%). This is an increase compared with the previous week (18.5%) (Figure 6.1).