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Laboratory-Based Surveillance

The following graphs depict the aggregate results of PDPH's respiratory virus surveillance. Care should be taken with the interpretation of these results.

These summaries display the provisional, year-to-date counts (or, in some cases, percentage positivity) of respiratory viruses by week of report. Comparable data for preceding years are shown as well.

All surveillance data are preliminary and are not intended for further distribution.

Week 10

For week 10 of 2020, rhinovirus was the predominant circulating non-influenza respiratory virus, with approximately 13% of tested specimens positive for rhinovirus. Rhinovirus activity appears to have begun increasing while RSV activity has continued to decline, both in trends similar to previous seasons. Human metapneumovirus detections were also particularly high compared to recent years. Parainfluenza virus and adenovirus detections have been consistent with previous seasons for this time of year.

Week 7

For week 7 of 2020, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the predominant circulating non-influenza respiratory virus, with approximately 7% of tested specimens positive for rhinovirus. Rhinovirus activity slightly decreased while RSV activity increased. Human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus detections have been consistent with previous seasons for this time of year.

Week 6

For week 6 of 2020, rhinovirus replaced respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as the predominant circulating non-influenza respiratory virus, with approximately 11% of tested specimens positive for rhinovirus. Rhinovirus activity appears to be slightly increasing while RSV activity has continued to decline, both in trends similar to recent seasons. Human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, and adenovirus detections have been consistent with previous seasons for this time of year.

Week 4

For week 4 of 2020, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus were the predominant circulating non-influenza respiratory viruses, with approximately 9% of tested specimens positive for RSV and 9% positive for rhinovirus. Over the course of the past few weeks, RSV activity has decreased along with rhinovirus activity in trends similar to recent seasons. Human metapneumovirus detections also continue to decrease after an early peak at the start of 2020. Parainfluenza virus and adenovirus detections have been consistent with trends in recent years.

Week 3

For week 3 of 2020, respiratory virus activity was typical for the time of year. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the predominant circulating non-influenza respiratory virus in week 3, with approximately 12% of tested specimens positive for RSV. Over the course of the past few weeks, RSV activity has decreased along with rhinovirus activity in trends similar to recent seasons. Parainfluenza type 1 detections were slightly elevated for the time of year while detections of parainfluenza type 2 and type 3 remained low. Human metapneumovirus detections decreased to levels similar to previous years after an early peak at the start of 2020.

Week 1

For week 1 of 2020, respiratory virus activity was relatively typical for the time of year. Notably, human metapneumovirus detections have been elevated compared to recent seasons. However, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the predominant circulating non-influenza respiratory virus in week 1, with approximately 18% of tested specimens positive for RSV. RSV activity has been similar to trends in recent years. Rhinovirus activity continues to decrease. Parainfluenza type 1 detections have also decreased rapidly after a period of higher activity in November. Detections of parainfluenza type 2 and type 3 have remained low while adenovirus activity has been consistent with trends in previous years.