Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report

About this release

As part of Public Health Scotland’s commitment to providing clear, concise and accessible viral respiratory data, there have been some improvements to the presentation this season’s viral respiratory report. These have included updates to the accessibility of figures presented in the report and a change in the title of the report from Viral respiratory diseases (including influenza and COVID-19) in Scotland surveillance report to Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report.

This weekly release by Public Health Scotland presents epidemiological information on respiratory infection activity, including COVID-19, across Scotland. Due to the dynamic nature of all datasets included in this report, figures contained within each update may be subject to change in future releases. Any revised figures will then be reflected within the latest update.

Main points

For the period, 19 January to 25 January 2026 (ISO week 4):

• The proportion of NHS24 calls due to respiratory symptoms continues at baseline activity level. GP consultations for both influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory infections (ARI) remain at baseline activity levels overall in week 4.
• Laboratory‑confirmed cases of influenza have decreased in week 4 to 240 since a peak of 1,994 in week 50 (2025). This is a return to a baseline activity level overall. Test positivity is also decreasing in CARI. Hospital admissions due to influenza in week 4 have decreased to 114 from 188 in week 3; more than 26% were among those aged 75 years and older.
• RSV laboratory‑confirmed case rates remained at low levels for a second week, although test positivity increased slightly from 9.1% to 10.3%. RSV test positivity remained stable in all age groups except in 45-64 years where it decreased from high to medium activity level. Test positivity increases were also seen in CARI surveillance. Hospital admissions due to RSV remain stable; the highest proportion occurred in children aged 1-4 years followed by infants under 1 year.
• COVID-19 laboratory activity remained stable and within baseline activity overall, but activity increased in the under 1 and 1-4, rising from baseline to low and medium to high respectively. Hospitalisations have increased slightly to 76 from 70 in week 3.
• Human metapneumovirus and seasonal coronavirus levels continue to increase over the season, with laboratory activity levels in week 4 rising to medium for both. Both viruses once again show a statistically significant 4-week increase in CARI GP surveillance.
• All-cause excess mortality remains at baseline activity in week 1, the last week not impacted by reporting delays. ​

Further information

The next narrative report will be 5 February 2026.

Find out more

Previous Publications

Versions of the Weekly national respiratory report publication released before 30 November 2022 may be found on the Public Health Scotland website.

Versions of the COVID-19 weekly statistical report publication released before 30 November 2022 may be found on the Public Health Scotland website.

Open data

Open data from this publication is available from the following weblinks:

• Viral respiratory diseases Open Data platform
• Flu and COVID vaccination uptake Open Data platform

Further data

• The COVID-19 Vaccine Wastage datafile was updated on 18 April 2024 to include the most recent information.
• The COVID-19 in Adult Care Homes in Scotland datafile was updated on 27 July 2023 to include more recent information.
• 28 September 2022 COVID-19 statistical report publication contains information on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy in Scotland.
• 2 March 2022 COVID-19 statistical report publication contains information on Highest Risk (shielding patients list)
• 7 November 2023 Community Acute Respiratory Infection (CARI) surveillance in primary care contains information on flu Vaccine effectiveness in community settings.
• 25 May 2023 Interim 2022/23 influenza vaccine effectiveness: six European studies, October 2022 to January 2023, contains information on flu Vaccine effectiveness in hospital settings.
• 13 January 2024 Estimated number of lives directly saved by COVID-19 vaccination programs in the WHO European Region, December 2020 to March 2023, contains information on lives saved due to COVID-19 vaccination