Integrated approach for national surveillance of respiratory viruses
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Available interactive data
Respiratory virus surveillance data are now available in an interactive report.
About integrated respiratory virus surveillance
Historically, national respiratory virus surveillance was largely focused on monitoring influenza virus activity. With the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19, and the increasing need for enhanced surveillance of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is moving toward an integrated approach to national respiratory virus surveillance.
Integrated respiratory virus surveillance is a strategy to monitor priority respiratory viruses with significant public health importance to support public health recommendations, actions, and ultimately to reduce the spread and impact of respiratory viruses among the population. This approach is aligned with surveillance models internationally, and will ensure consistency, efficiency, and sustainability of the surveillance system to monitor multiple respiratory viruses.
The guiding national respiratory virus surveillance objectives:
- detect and assess emerging or re-emerging respiratory viruses, in order to ensure the timely identification of epidemiological signals, the preparation of coordinated assessment(s), and the response to epidemics and other events of urgent public health concern
- monitor epidemiological characteristics of respiratory viruses in interpandemic periods, in order to contribute to the evidence base necessary for planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of health programs and public health policies for the control of respiratory viruses
- inform the implementation of public health interventions, support surveillance initiatives, and evaluate public health programs
- an important component is virological surveillance which characterizes circulating strains by determining their relatedness to the current vaccine strains and their susceptibility to antiviral drugs to inform vaccine strain selection and public health policy for the control of respiratory viruses
The FluWatch+ surveillance program, formerly known as FluWatch, reflects and implements this expanded approach as the national surveillance system. Monitoring the spread of respiratory viruses and influenza-like illnesses (ILI) year-round, the FluWatch+ surveillance system monitors the progression and severity of respiratory viruses. It is a multicomponent surveillance system that consists of a variety of data streams, including:
- laboratory testing data
- severe outcome data
- outbreak data
- syndromic data
- virological data
- benefits from additional information from sources including wastewater monitoring, modelling, and international monitoring
Data that inform the FluWatch+ system are provided by:
- health care providers
- volunteers in Canada
- surveillance networks
- hospital and public health laboratories
- provincial and territorial health authorities
- other federal departments and government organizations
The Canadian Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report, produced by the FluWatch+ surveillance program, offers a weekly epidemiological summary of COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and other respiratory viruses (where data are available) in Canada. The report is released every Friday from October through May.
Access the interactive Canadian respiratory virus surveillance report
The Respiratory Virus Detection Surveillance System (RVDSS) report has been integrated into the Canadian Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report. FluWatch and RVDSS reports from previous respiratory virus seasons can be accessed through the following pages:
Surveillance resources
In addition to the Canadian Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report, there are additional programs and products across PHAC and other federal departments and government organizations which provide information relevant to the respiratory virus situation and associated impacts in Canada. Some of these additional resources are outlined below. Given differences in the objectives and methods of data streams and sources, trends reported through these surveillance resources may not align with the trends reported in the Canadian Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report.
Respiratory virus surveillance in humans
Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP): A sentinel hospital-based surveillance network which collects and analyzes data on viral respiratory infections including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, as well as on antimicrobial use, infection prevention and control practices, laboratory practices, and emerging threats such as Candida auris. CNISP aims to conduct surveillance of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistant organisms to inform evidence-based policies and control measures against antimicrobial resistance.
Guide to services (influenza, respiratory viruses and coronaviruses): A resource that provides an up-to-date listing of diagnostic and reference services by the Influenza, Respiratory Viruses and Coronaviruses Section at the National Microbiology Laboratory. Additionally, it provides guidelines for submitting isolates to the National Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Programs, respectively, for enhanced virological assessment including antigenic characterization, genomic analysis, and antiviral susceptibility testing.
Human Emerging Respiratory Pathogens Bulletin: A monthly publication developed by PHAC's Centre for Emerging and Respiratory Infections and Pandemic Preparedness that aims to share information on summary surveillance indicators of global active public health events affecting humans in the field of emerging respiratory pathogens.
Wider health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrated reporting tool that explores the various unexpected and indirect health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the tool is to help understand potential drivers of health outcomes by assessing the impact of the pandemic with a post-pandemic emphasis.
Respiratory virus surveillance in wastewater
Respiratory virus wastewater monitoring dashboard: A pan-Canadian network to track the levels of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV through community wastewater samples. The wastewater monitoring network aims to track the spread of respiratory viruses to provide an early warning of disease activity in communities across Canada and to inform the public about potential public health risks so they can take steps to protect their health.
Respiratory virus surveillance in animals
COVID-19 and animals: Provides links to national and global surveillance data on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animals.
Influenza in animals, avian influenza: Presents the latest information, including surveillance data, on avian influenza A(H5N1).
General information on respiratory virus illnesses
- RSV
- Influenza
- COVID-19
- Respiratory infectious diseases: How to reduce the spread with personal protective measures
Related links
Provincial and territorial reporting
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories: Influenza information
- Northwest Territories: COVID-19 information
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut: Influenza information
- Nunavut: COVID-19 information
- Ontario
- Quebec (French only)
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
International reporting
World Health Organization
- COVID-19 dashboard
- Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 surveillance data (GISRS)
- World Health Organization global COVID-19 detailed surveillance dashboard
- Integrated influenza and other respiratory viruses surveillance dashboard (GISRS)
Pan American Health Organization
United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- COVID-19 data tracker
- Weekly influenza summary update
- Respiratory virus data channel weekly snapshot
Europe
Asia
Australia and New Zealand
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