The 2022/23 respiratory season surveillance report summarizes key insights for circulating viruses including influenza, COVID-19, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), enteroviruses/rhinoviruses (ERV), and others.
A variety of respiratory viruses circulate in British Columbia (B.C.) throughout the year, with higher levels of activity during the fall and winter months.
The respiratory season report summarizes key insights from 28 August 2022
through to 22 April 2023. It includes data from diagnostic test results, Medical Services Plan (MSP) based syndromic surveillance, wastewater sampling, care facility outbreaks (COVID-19 and influenza), and information on vaccines. Knowledge gathered across different data sources help public health practitioners monitor the situation and respond as needed.
Following two years of relatively low non-COVID-19 respiratory illness activity in 2020/21 and 2021/22, 2022/23 season is characterized by the return to seasonal respiratory virus co-circulation patterns, albeit with some atypical features. Compared with the historical average for the 2014/15 to 2018/19 respiratory seasons, influenza activity peaked earlier, lasted for a shorter time period, and had a pronounced impact on the pediatric population. RSV activity was notably higher than historical average. SARS-CoV-2 continued to be present in BC communities at fluctuating levels between September and April. Circulation of other viruses generally fell within the expected range.
Review the report: 2022/23 Respiratory Season Surveillance Report
