Update - acute respiratory infection activity in Tasmania

This page presents a snapshot of current acute respiratory infection activity in Tasmania. 

Current activity is presented for acute respiratory illness and specific notifiable viruses, these are COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. Acute respiratory illness is an overall indicator and may be due to symptoms of various infections including COVID-19, influenza, RSV, Rhinovirus and others. Activity may be presented as low, moderate or high. 

While monitoring by Public Health Services is continuous, this page is updated weekly during increased seasonal influenza and RSV activity and monthly (released 4-weekly) during inter-seasonal periods. Trend is provided during periods of increased seasonal activity, as stable, increasing or decreasing. 

Understanding current activity of acute respiratory infections will help Tasmanians keep informed to understand what steps they can take to reduce the risk to themselves and others.

Data released 1 November for the week ending Sunday 27 October, 2024*

Learn more about what steps to take when activity is LOW 

What does this mean? As at 27 October, 2024: 

• Acute respiratory illness (ARI) activity in Tasmania is currently low and stable.
• COVID-19 activity is currently low and stable. Increases in recent weeks have been observed in those aged 65 years and older. 
• Influenza activity is currently low and decreasing.
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity is currently low and decreasing.
• The influenza and RSV seasons are substantially over, with activity returning to inter-seasonal levels. 
• The activity of other acute respiratory pathogens, such as metapneumovirus and parainfluenza, continue to circulate at higher levels in the community. 

*The last weekly update for season is data released 1 November for the week ending Sunday 27 October 2024.

For more details and data, see the RespTas report 

Published by the Health Intelligence team, Communicable Diseases Prevention Unit, Public Health Services. 

Sources: Tasmanian Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System; FluTracking, Hunter New England Local Health District, New South Wales Ministry of Health; DSPL — Diagnostic Services Pty Ltd; RHH — Royal Hobart Hospital Pathology.