Provincial Respiratory Surveillance Report

COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza

2022-2023


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 completeness, accuracy 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 45 (November 6 – November 12)

About epidemiological week

Data extracted up to 1:00 am on November 17, 2022
Next reporting date: November 25, 2022

COVID-19 vaccination / Seasonal Influenza vaccination

COVID-19: Similar Activity

COVID-19 activity in Week 45 was similar to the previous week. Laboratory detections were substantively lower compared to the same time period in the previous two years. Older adults continue to be at higher risk for COVID-19 infections and associated hospital admissions and fatalities.

As of November 12, in all Manitoba residents, 78.1% have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, 20.6% have received at least one dose within the last six months.

Wastewater surveillance data for the city of Winnipeg by November 8 indicated decreased activity of COVID-19 from mid-October.

Cases

About cases

  • Cases this week: 273
  • Total cases: 5632
More Analyses

Testing

About testing

This week

  • Average daily specimens: 350
  • Weekly positivity rate: 24.5%

Total

  • Tested people: 27,022
  • Population tested: 1.9%
  • Specimens tested: 40,977
  • Positivity rate: 22.3%
More Analyses

Severity

About associated severity

Severe outcomes this week

  • Hospital admissions: 111
    • ICU admissions3: 11
  • Deaths: 5

Total severe outcomes

  • Hospital admissions: 1,730
    • ICU admissions: 187
  • Deaths: 159
More Analyses

Outbreaks

About outbreaks

COVID-19 outbreaks this week

  • In long-term care facilities: 6
  • In hospitals: 0
  • In other settings: 0

Total COVID-19 outbreaks

  • In long-term care facilities: 141
  • In hospitals: 66
  • In other settings: 1
More Analyses

Seasonal Influenza: Increased Activity

Influenza activity increased in the last three weeks. In Week 45, influenza A test positivity increased to 7.4%, yet still lower than 11.7% that was observed nationally. This increase in activity is earlier than would be expected for this time of year. The predominant circulating strain is influenza A (H3N2), a strain that typically has higher risk for older adults. However, up to Week 45 this season, about one third of those influenza cases and influenza associated hospital admissions are among children below the age of 18. Additionally, children below the age of five years accounted for 13% of all influenza cases and 20% of associated hospital admissions.

At the same time, there are other co-circulating respiratory viruses whose detections have also increased. RSV test positivity was 5.5% in Week 45, an increase from 3% in the previous week.

Cases

Cases this week

  • Influenza A: 54
  • Influenza B: 0

Total cases

  • Influenza A: 116
  • Influenza B: 0
More Analyses

Testing

Influenza testing this week

  • Average daily specimens: 116
  • Influenza A positivity rate: 7.4%
  • Influenza B positivity rate: 0

Other respiratory pathogens this week

  • RSV4 positivity rate: 5.5%
  • RSV detections: 45

Severity

Severe outcomes this week

  • Hospital admissions: 10
    • ICU admissions: 0
  • Deaths: <5

Total severe outcomes

  • Hospital admissions: 24
    • ICU admissions: <5
  • Deaths: <5

Outbreaks

Influenza outbreaks this week

  • Influenza A: 0
  • Influenza B: 0

Total influenza outbreaks

  • Influenza A: 2
  • Influenza B: 0
More Analyses

Syndromic Indicators: Increased Activity

The activity level in a number of syndromic indicators has increased in the last few weeks indicating an increase in respiratory activity in the community and in primary care.

In addition, the daily respiratory related visits to emergency departments/urgent care increased in the last three weeks. Additionally, average daily admissions to hospitals from those respiratory patients in Winnipeg increased in Week 45.

FluWatchers

About FluWatchers

Participants reporting: 579

Reporting fever and cough: 3.5%

More Analyses

Physician Visits

About sentinel physicians

Influenza Like Illness (ILI) Visits to sentinel physicians this week: 3.9%

More Analyses

Antiviral

About Antiviral

Units of antiviral dispensed from pharmacies: 5


Total influenza isolates resistant to antiviral this season in Canada

  • Oseltamivir: 0
  • Zanamivir: 0
More Analyses

ED Visits

About emergency room visits

Average daily respiratory visits to emergency department (ED): 2255

Important Notes

  1. Data about COVID-19 and influenza cases are extracted from PHIMS.
  2. 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.
  3. ICU admissions were included in hospital admissions, and include adult and pediatric cases.
  4. RSV - Respiratory syncytial virus.

COVID-19

Cases

Figure 1. Cases of COVID-19 by Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – November 12, 2022

Back


Figure 2. Sex and Age Distribution of COVID-19 Cases, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – November 12, 2022

Back


Figure 3. Incidence Rate (/10,000 Population) of COVID-19 Cases by Age Group and Week of Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – November 12, 2022

Back


Figure 4. Cases of COVID-19 by Health Region and Public Health Report Date, Manitoba, August 1, 2022 – November 12, 2022

Back


Table 1. Cases of COVID-19 and Incidence Rate (/10,000 population) by Health Region, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – November 12, 2022

Helath region Total cases Cases this week Incidence rate this week Age-standardized incidence rate* this week
Winnipeg RHA 3365 157 2.0 1.9
Southern Health-Santé Sud 519 32 1.5 1.7
Interlake-Eastern RHA 628 26 1.9 1.8
Prairie Mountain Health 738 33 1.9 1.7
Northern Health Region 382 25 3.2 4.6

Note: * Age-standardized rates are used to account for differences in the age structure in health regions. The whole Manitoba population is used as the standard population.

Back


Testing

Figure 5. Average Daily Testing Volume and Positivity (%) for COVID-19 by Week of Specimen Receiving Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – November 12, 2022

Back


Severity

Figure 6. Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 by Week of Outcome Date, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – November 12, 2022

Note. ICU admissions are not included in the hospital admissions.

Back


Figure 7. Age Distribution of Severe COVID-19 Cases Compared to All Cases, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – November 12, 2022


Outbreaks

Figure 8. Weekly COVID-19 Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2020 – 2022

Note: Respiratory outbreaks include COVID-19 outbreaks, influenza outbreaks and the other respiratory outbreaks with known or unknown pathogens.

Back

Vaccination

Table 2. Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccinations, Manitoba, November 12, 2022

Age group (years) At least 1 dose At least 2 doses At least 1 dose within the last 6 months At least 1 dose of Bivalent
.5-04 8.0% 2.3% 8.0% 0.0%
05-11 56.2% 42.8% 8.5% 0.0%
12-17 82.9% 78.4% 8.0% 2.3%
18-29 88.7% 85.7% 6.1% 4.2%
30-39 84.6% 82.2% 9.9% 7.8%
40-49 87.8% 86.0% 13.4% 10.8%
50-59 87.2% 85.8% 23.9% 12.3%
60-69 94.6% 93.4% 43.3% 22.0%
70-79 99.4% 98.4% 60.1% 30.5%
80+ 96.9% 96.0% 60.8% 32.3%
ALL 81.3% 78.1% 20.6% 10.9%

For more information, please visit COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Canada - Canada.ca

Back

Seasonal Influenza

Cases

Figure 9. Weekly Cases of Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza, Manitoba, 2018 – November 12, 2022

Back


Figure 10. Age Distribution of Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Cases, Manitoba, July 3, 2022 – November 12, 2022

Back


Outbreaks

Figure 11. Weekly Respiratory and Influenza Outbreaks, Manitoba, 2018 – November 12, 2022

Note: Respiratory outbreaks include COVID-19 outbreaks, influenza outbreaks and the other respiratory outbreaks with known or unknown pathogens.

Back


Vaccinations

Table 4. Coverage of Influenza Vaccinations, Manitoba, September 1, 2022 – November 12, 2022

Age group Does Coverage percentage
0-4 5261 6.2%
5-17 14426 6.3%
18-49 48638 8.2%
50-64 48473 18.7%
65+ 100502 43.0%
All 218109 15.6%

Back


FluWatchers

Figure 12. Weekly FluWatchers Participants and Percentage Reporting Fever and Cough, Manitoba, 2018 – November 12, 2022

Back


Physician Visits

Figure 13. Weekly Percentage of ILI Related Visits to Sentinel Physicians, Manitoba, 2018 – November 12, 2022

Back


Antiviral

Figure 14. Weekly Units of Antiviral Dispensed from Pharmacies, Manitoba, 2018 – November 12, 2022

Back