The Public health team are notified of any cases of influenza-like-illness (ILI). As this is based on an individual’s symptoms, this does not indicate which pathogen is causing the illness. This data can provide insights on the level of reported respiratory illness in the population which shows a seasonal increase each winter, and how this compares to previous winters seasons.
As shown in Figure 5, respiratory illness in 2019/2020 shows a typical winter peak pattern, and decreases more rapidly from mid-March onwards (week 12) likely due to the implementation of the COVID-19 measures including closure of public places.
The following winter season of 2020/2021 shows very low levels of ILI, likely linked to limited mixing and improvement in hand hygiene limiting influenza cases, as well as very few COVID-19 cases.
Last winter, 2021/2022, the higher level of ILI reporting likely reflects the Delta wave of COVID-19 alongside potentially lower immunity to respiratory pathogens from reduced mixing the previous winter. Data from 2022 currently aligns to pre-COVID-19 levels of ILI.
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