RSV activity in the United Kingdom
Current respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity in the UK — based on UKHSA Dashboard weekly hospital admissions, set against the parallel flu and COVID-19 trajectories.
Current situation: RSV
In week 15 of 2026, activity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the United Kingdom is low. The trend — derived from weekly hospital admission rates — is stable. A slight downward trend has emerged over recent weeks.
The classification is based on the UKHSA Respiratory Surveillance Dashboard, which tracks RSV hospital admission rates together with RCGP sentinel surveillance indicators. Seasonally, infection waves in the United Kingdom typically peak between December and February; activity is usually markedly lower in spring and summer. How severe a given season becomes depends on the circulating virus variant and the population's immune status, among other factors.
Data sources and methodology
The current picture for the United Kingdom is built on the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Dashboard. UKHSA is the national public-health authority for England and publishes weekly NHS England hospital admission rates for influenza and RSV, alongside daily case rate data for COVID-19. We rescale these signals into a consultation-equivalent indicator so the qualitative “low / moderate / high” categories are consistent with how we report other countries.
UKHSA Dashboard
The UKHSA Dashboard is the official public data portal of the UK Health Security Agency. It aggregates surveillance data from NHS England, sentinel primary care networks and laboratory reporting. For our headline level we use the weekly hospital admission rates for flu and RSV, and the daily COVID-19 case rate series.
Hospital admission rates
Flu and RSV are reported as laboratory-confirmed hospital admissions per 100,000 population per week, submitted by NHS England trusts. For COVID-19 the UKHSA Dashboard exposes a daily case rate series, which we aggregate into a weekly rolling mean. Together these give a stable signal of severe respiratory illness pressure that is robust to changes in individual testing behaviour.
Why this source
UKHSA is the authoritative source for England-wide respiratory surveillance and the only one to publish hospital admission rates with national coverage on a weekly cadence. Hospital admissions reflect the load on the healthcare system and update with roughly a one-week lag, while the COVID case-rate series tracks transmission more directly.
Qualitative classification
The “low”, “moderate” and “high” categories follow seasonal reference values and epidemiological thresholds calibrated to match our classifications for other countries. Admission rates and the COVID case-rate series are scaled to consultation-equivalent incidence using pathogen-specific conversion factors derived from typical seasonal peaks. Data refreshes weekly when UKHSA publishes the latest Dashboard update.
Frequently asked questions
When is RSV season in the UK?
RSV in the UK typically returns each autumn, rises through November, and peaks between December and February before fading in spring. Intensity varies year to year. UKHSA reports RSV activity weekly within the national influenza and COVID-19 surveillance bulletin, and publishes hospital admission trends for bronchiolitis, which is the clinical entry point for most infant RSV cases.
Who is most at risk from RSV in the UK?
The two main groups at highest risk of severe RSV are infants, especially those under six months and those born prematurely or with heart or lung conditions, and older adults, particularly those aged 75 and above or living with chronic respiratory or cardiac disease. In otherwise healthy adults RSV usually resembles a common cold and resolves within a week or two.
Is there an NHS RSV vaccination programme?
Yes. Since 2024 the NHS offers an RSV vaccine to pregnant women from 28 weeks of pregnancy, which protects infants in the first months of life, and to adults aged 75 to 79. UKHSA monitors the impact of the programme on hospital admissions. For infants not covered by maternal vaccination, the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab is used in specific high-risk groups under JCVI guidance.
How is RSV surveillance conducted in the UK?
UKHSA tracks RSV through the DataMart laboratory reporting system, the SARI-Watch hospital network, and sentinel swabbing in RCGP practices where respiratory samples are tested for multiple pathogens including RSV. Results feed into the UKHSA Dashboard and weekly surveillance reports, which show both the level of activity and how current signals compare to historical baselines.
How is RSV different from flu?
RSV and influenza both cause respiratory infections and circulate together during UK winters, but their risk profiles differ. RSV is the leading cause of bronchiolitis in infants, while flu affects all age groups and carries elevated risk in older adults and people with chronic conditions. Symptoms overlap, and laboratory testing is usually needed to tell them apart reliably.
Want the actual numbers?
You'll find them in the app.
Here you only see the trend. In the app: exact incidence rates, “X out of 100 people infectious”, your personal risk based on age and pre-existing conditions, wastewater trends, 36 countries, home-screen widget.
