Respiratory Virus Data

The respiratory virus data tool consists of surveillance dashboards and summary reports.

Respiratory virus data are updated weekly on Thursdays.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Key trends

December 24, 2025

Respiratory virus activity in BC

Reporting period:  December 14-20, 2025 (Epi-week 51)​​ - O​pen the week​l​y summary as a PDF

All dashboard reporting will be paused the week of December 28. Regular updates will resume on January 8.

Current respiratory activity is measured in consideration of recent past respiratory seasons.​

Influenza and RSV activity are increasing; COVID-19 is decreasing.​

Influenza

  • Influenza test positivity continues to increase in all age groups, with high levels observed in children. Wastewater viral loads have shown recent signs of increase in most sites.

RSV 

  • RSV test positivity has increased in recent weeks, notably among children, and is at low-moderate levels. Wastewater viral loads have shown recent signs of increase in some sites but remain low overall.

COVID-19

  • SARS-CoV-2 test positivity continues to decrease and is at low levels. Wastewater viral loads are decreasing or remain stable at varying levels in most sites. Severe outcomes remain low. 

Health care visits

  • The proportions of emergency department and primary care visits for respiratory illness have increased in recent weeks, particularly among children. Trends remain comparable to the same period of the prior season.

National and international context

Influenza

  • In Canada, all indicators of influenza activity are high and increasing. Influenza percent positivity continues to increase rapidly and is similar to the highest value recorded in the past three seasons. Influenza activity is more geographically synchronized than normal, with most provinces/territories reporting sustained increases in recent weeks.
  • In the USA, seasonal influenza activity continues to increase across the country.
  • In the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA), influenza circulation continues to increase with almost all countries now reporting widespread activity at low-to-very high intensity and increasing trends. Circulation is affecting all age groups, but is highest in children aged 5-14 years. Increases in hospitalisation are now observed in many countries, affecting all age groups, but primarily in adults aged 65 years and above.​

RSV

  • In Canada, indicators of RSV activity are low but increasing slowly. The percentage of tests positive for RSV remains far below expected levels for this time of year.
  • In the USA, RSV activity is increasing in the Southeastern, Southern, and Mid-Atlantic areas of the country with emergency department visits and hospitalizations increasing among children 0-4 years old.
  • In the EU/EEA, RSV circulation has plateaued following weeks of steady increase and remains at relatively low levels, below what was observed at this time in the past four seasons. Hospital data show rising RSV-related admissions in a few countries, primarily among children aged under five years.​

COVID-19

  • In Canada, indicators of COVID-19 activity were stable in the most recent reporting week.
  • In the USA, COVID-19 activity is low.
  • In the EU/EEA, SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate but is decreasing in all age groups, and the impact on hospitalisations is currently limited. ​​
Find more epidemiological reports including past season reports

Survey

We are interested in knowing if you have found the information on the Wastewater Surveillance dashboard​ useful. You can complete a five to 10-minute survey on your experience​ for a chance to win a small gift.


Dashboards

The respiratory virus dashboards display data for circulating viruses including influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), enteroviruses/rhinoviruses, and others.
Reports

2025/26 Respiratory Epidemiological Summaries and Special Reports

​Respiratory virus activity summary

Past season: 2024/25 Epidemiological Summaries and Special Reports
​​
​Respiratory virus activity in BC: Weekly Summary

Past season: 2023/24 Epidemiological Summaries and Special Reports

​COVID-19 Situation Report

  • COVID-19 Situation Report Archive - This report is an archive of the data previously included in the COVID-19 Situation Report dashboard, from January 1, 2020, to August 31, 2024.

Respiratory Epidemiological Summaries

Respiratory season surveillance reports summarize key insights for circulating viruses including influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), enteroviruses/rhinoviruses (ERV), and others.​​

Special Reports

Historical reports
​
  • ​​2022/23 Respiratory Season Surveillance Report
    • ​The respiratory season report summarizes key insights from 28 August 2022 through to 22 April 2023. Following two years of relatively low non-COVID-19 respiratory illness activity in 2020/21 and 2021/22, the 2022/23 season is characterized by the return to seasonal respiratory virus co-circulation patterns, albeit with some atypical features.
  • Archived B.C. COVID-1​9 Data​

Technical Documents & Resources

​About the Respiratory Diseases data platform

The Respiratory Diseases data platform combines surveillance for COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory pathogens in one platform to monitor trends throughout the respiratory season. The platform is made up of a series of interactive online data pages.

The last respiratory data update of the season was published on May 4, 2023. Updates on influenza and other respiratory pathogens will resume in the fall.

COVID-19 updates will continue monthly throughout the spring and summer.

Changes to COVID-19 data system: May 4, 2023

The British Columbia (BC) COVID-19 surveillance system was updated on May 4, 2023 to use infection episodes of COVID-19 to capture multiple COVID-19 infections in the same person. The update to the system will also capture all hospital and critical care admissions and deaths in a person with a positive lab test. This is a shift from using a system of using first positive lab result for surveillance.

For detailed information about the update to the surveillance system and impact of the changes, read the technical document: BC COVID-19 Surveillance System Update: Infection episode-based approach​

National data 

​​​​​​​​​​​​


Tab Heading