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Respiratory Virus Testing

Updated 9 Dec 2022

RSV is still present in low numbers, mostly in young children. 

Influenza is not circulating, but we are seeing occasional cases come in with travellers from the Northern Hemisphere.

New cases of COVID-19 are still occuring.  Inpatient COVID numbers are steady at about 20 most days. We try to identify the majority of cases as they come in, many of whom have COVID contributing to their overall condition. 

Emergency Department patients with respiratory illness are now only routinely being tested for SARS-Cov-2, but under 5 year olds are also screened for RSV.  Asymptomatic patients admitted from ED are all being screened for SARS-CoV-2 by a loop mediated amplification (LAMP) test, which compares well with PCR and is sensitive enough to detect historical cases from 2 or 3 months ago.  RSV, Influenza and Adenovirus testing are available for any patient, on request.

Respiratory swabs received from the community (GPs) are tested for either SARS-CoV-2 alone or other viruses, as requested.

 

Dr Chris Mansell

Clinical Microbiologist

 

 

Latest laboratory specimen collection information can be found here

Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2021 Week 7

26 02 2021

No Influenza or RSV, but there are low numbers of Rhinovirus/Enterovirus present.   Respiratory Virus Report Week 7 2021    

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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2021 Week 5

11 02 2021

Respiratory virus test numbers have declined and are at summer levels.   Respiratory Virus Report Week 5 2021    

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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2021 Week 1

14 01 2021

Quiet, summer pattern.   No Influenza, RSV or COVID.   First Respiratory Virus Report for 2021.   Week 1

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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2020 Week 53

06 01 2021

The following major respiratory viral pathogens are absent from the Waikato community: Influenza A, Influenza B, RSV, SARS-CoV-2. Rhinoviruses and a variety of the less pathogenic viruses are circulating.

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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report Week 51

22 12 2020

A variety of respiratory viruses are circulating in the Waikato but Influenza, RSV and SARS-CoV-2 remain absent.    Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2020 12 22

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