China sentinel surveillance of acute respiratory infectious diseases (week 1, 2025)
In the first week of 2025 ( December 30 , 2024 - January 5 , 2025 ) , respiratory samples from outpatient influenza -like cases and hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases collected in sentinel hospitals across the country (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) were tested for 10 viruses including the new coronavirus, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, common coronavirus, bocavirus, rhinovirus and enterovirus, as well as multiple respiratory pathogens including Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
1. Test results
The positive pathogens detected in respiratory samples of influenza-like cases in outpatient and emergency departments of sentinel hospitals were mainly influenza virus, human metapneumovirus, and rhinovirus; the positive pathogens detected in respiratory samples of hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases were mainly influenza virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and human metapneumovirus. The specific results are shown in Table 1, Figure 1, and Figure 2. The test results showed differences between the north and south regions and between different age groups, as shown in Table 2 and Table 3.
2. Analysis and health tips
The results showed that the overall acute respiratory infectious diseases continued to show an upward trend, and the trends of infections caused by different pathogens were different. Influenza is still in the seasonal epidemic period, and the positive rate of influenza virus has slowed down. Among them, the positive rate of influenza virus in outpatient and emergency influenza-like cases nationwide increased by 3.8% compared with last week, but it is still lower than the same period last year. It is expected that the influenza activity level may gradually decline in the middle and late part of the month, and the influenza activity level varies among different provinces. The positive rate of human metapneumovirus fluctuates on a high platform, among which the positive rate in northern provinces has slowed down, and the positive rate in cases aged 14 and below has begun to decline. The positive rate of respiratory syncytial virus fluctuates and rises in cases aged 0 to 4 years. The positive rates of rhinovirus, adenovirus, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae continue to decline. Other respiratory pathogens such as the new coronavirus are at a low epidemic level.
We are still in the season of high incidence of respiratory infectious diseases. In order to reduce the spread of diseases and reduce the harm of diseases, the public is advised to take the following protective measures:
(1) Maintain good hygiene habits: cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, towel or elbow when coughing or sneezing; wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission.
(2) Promote a healthy lifestyle: A balanced diet, moderate exercise and adequate rest can help enhance immunity. If you have a fever, cough or other respiratory infection symptoms, it is recommended to rest at home, avoid going to work or school while sick, wear a mask when in contact with family members, and keep the room well ventilated.
(3) Wear a mask scientifically: Wear a mask throughout the medical treatment process; it is recommended to wear a mask in crowded places or when taking public transportation (such as airplanes, trains, subways, etc.).
(4) Actively vaccinate: People with weak immunity (such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and patients with chronic diseases) should be vaccinated with relevant vaccines to prevent respiratory infectious diseases in a timely manner according to vaccination guidelines, including influenza vaccine, new coronavirus vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine. In particular, with the recent increase in influenza activity, people of appropriate age who have not received influenza vaccination should be vaccinated as soon as possible.
Table 1 Positive rate of nucleic acid detection of pathogens in respiratory samples in the first week ( % )
Pathogens | Outpatient influenza-like illness |
| Hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases | ||
Week 1 | Compared with last week * |
| Week 1 | Compared with last week * | |
Novel Coronavirus | 1.5 | -0.1 |
| 1.9 | +0.1 |
Influenza virus | 35.5 | +3.8 |
| 21.4 | +2.5 |
Respiratory syncytial virus | 2.9 | +0.3 |
| 3.0 | -0.8 |
Adenovirus | 3.1 | -0.6 |
| 2.4 | -0.4 |
Human metapneumovirus | 6.2 | 0 |
| 5.0 | -0.3 |
Parainfluenza virus | 1.7 | 0 |
| 1.5 | -0.2 |
Common coronavirus | 1.6 | +0.2 |
| 1.5 | 0 |
Bocavirus | 0.5 | -0.1 |
| 0.9 | -0.1 |
Rhinovirus | 4.3 | -0.6 |
| 4.4 | -0.9 |
Enterovirus | 1.5 | -0.2 |
| 1.3 | 0 |
Mycoplasma pneumoniae | 1.9 | -0.5 |
| 5.7 | -1.1 |
Note: “ + ” indicates that the positive rate of specific pathogen detection this week has increased compared with last week; “ - ” indicates that the positive rate of specific pathogen detection this week has decreased compared with last week.
Table 2 Regional differences in the positive rates of nucleic acid tests for major pathogens in respiratory samples in the first week
province | Outpatient influenza-like illness |
| Hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases | ||||
First place | Second Place | Third Place |
| First place | Second Place | Third Place | |
Southern Provinces | Influenza virus | Rhinovirus | Human metapneumovirus |
| Influenza virus | Rhinovirus | Human metapneumovirus |
Northern Provinces | Influenza virus | Human metapneumovirus | Respiratory syncytial adenovirus |
| Influenza virus | Mycoplasma pneumoniae | Human metapneumovirus |
The southern provinces include: Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan.
The northern provinces include: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Shandong, Henan, Tibet, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
Table 3 Differences in the positive rates of nucleic acid tests for major pathogens in respiratory samples in the first week by age group
Age Group |
| Outpatient influenza-like illness |
| Hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases |
0 to 4 years old |
| ① Influenza virus |
| ① Influenza virus |
| ② Human metapneumovirus |
| ② Human metapneumovirus | |
| ③ Respiratory syncytial virus |
| ③ Respiratory syncytial virus | |
5 to 14 years old |
| ① Influenza virus |
| ① Mycoplasma pneumoniae |
| ② Human metapneumovirus |
| ② Influenza virus | |
| ③ Adenovirus |
| ③ Human metapneumovirus | |
15 to 59 years old |
| ① Influenza virus |
| ① Influenza virus |
| ② Rhinovirus |
| ② Rhinovirus | |
| ③ Human metapneumovirus |
| ③ Human metapneumovirus | |
60 years and above |
| ① Influenza virus |
| ① Influenza virus |
| ② Rhinovirus |
| ② Rhinovirus, new coronavirus | |
| ③ New coronavirus,common coronavirus |
| ③ Human metapneumovirus |
Figure 1-A Weekly trend of positive rate of nucleic acid detection of pathogens in respiratory samples of outpatients with influenza-like cases in sentinel hospital
Figure 1-B Weekly trend of influenza virus test positivity rate in respiratory samples of influenza-like patients in outpatient and emergency departments of sentinel hospitals ( since Week 14 , 2021 )
Figure 2 Weekly trends in the positive rate of nucleic acid testing for pathogens in respiratory samples of patients with severe acute respiratory infection in sentinel hospitals
