Syndromic surveillance summary: 26 September 2026 week 39
Updated 1 October 2026
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Reporting week 39: 21 to 27 September 2026
Further increases were observed across several acute respiratory indicators during week 39. In general, activity started to stabilise in children but continued to increase in adults. GP in- and out-of-hours and emergency department influenza-like-illness indicators increased during the reporting week (particularly in adults aged 15 to 44 years) and remained above levels expected for the time of year. COVID-like-illness indicators also increased.
Remote health advice syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, NHS 111 triaged calls and online assessments for acute respiratory infections (ARI) continued to increase in line with seasonally expected baselines. ARI calls and online assessments slowed in children aged up to 14 years but increased further in adults aged 15 to 44 years.
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GP in-hours syndromic surveillance system
There were further increases in COVID-19-like and influenza-like illness consultations reported during week 39. Influenza-like illness was above levels expected for the time of year with increases noted in adults (particularly 15 to 44 years). There was a further increase in acute presenting asthma; while rates stabilised in children aged 1 to 14 years, they continued to increase in adults aged 15 to 44 years.
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GP out-of-hours syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, daily contacts for acute respiratory infections increased in line with seasonally expected baselines. Contacts for influenza-like illness also increased and were above baseline levels; increases were particularly seen in the 15 to 44 years age group.
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Emergency department (ED) syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, ED attendances for acute respiratory infections (ARI) increased and were above levels expected for the time of year. Increases in ARI attendances slowed among children aged under 15 years but continued in adults, particularly those aged 15 to 44 years. Influenza-like illness attendances increased, mainly in the 15 to 44 years age group, and remained above levels expected for the time of year. There was also a further increase in COVID-19-like attendances during week 39.
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Ambulance syndromic surveillance system
During week 39, daily ambulance calls for difficulty breathing continued to increase in line with seasonally expected trends. Headache calls also increased but remained within expected levels.