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Archive: 2018

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 - Week 42

08 11 2018

Specimen numbers continue to decline. Respiratory virus activity is now at summer levels. Rhinoviruses and a few Coronaviruses are still circulating. Waikato Respiratory Virus Report - Week 42

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MDRO Trends

04 09 2018

Changes in MRSA and ESBL rates over the last 5 years MDRO Trends

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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report - Week 35

04 09 2018

Influenza A is having a prolonged season and specimen numbers are still high. Waikato Respiratory Virus Report - Week 35

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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report - Week 34

28 08 2018

Influenza A and RSV numbers are steady, at winter levels.

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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report - Week 32

14 08 2018

Influenza numbers remain high. However, only 29% of samples are positive for Influenza A so most patients would not benefit from Oseltamivir because there a variety of other viruses circulating too.

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