Influenza activity has increased and is circulating at baseline levels in England, according to the latest weekly winter virus surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the week of 28 September to 4 October 2026. Flu positivity rose to 6.5% during this period, up from 5% in the preceding week. Overall flu hospitalisations were recorded at 1.97 per 100,000.
COVID-19 activity also increased, circulating at low levels. The weekly positivity rate for COVID-19 rose to 9.1% from 7.9% in the previous week. COVID-19 hospitalisations increased to 2.04 per 100,000, compared with 1.75 per 100,000 previously, while ICU admissions remained low at 0.06 per 100,000.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity remained low and at baseline levels, though positivity increased to 0.5% from 0.3%. The overall weekly hospital admission rate for RSV was 0.11 per 100,000, a slight decrease from 0.13 per 100,000 in the previous week.
Norovirus activity remains low and within expected levels for this time of year. Laboratory reports for norovirus between 21 September and 4 October 2026 were 9.8% lower than the five-season average for the same two-week period. Rotavirus activity was 13.9% higher than the five-season average but remained within expected levels.