This report describes the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) variants in Northern Ireland.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has integrated influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 reporting into this report to provide a single overview of the epidemiology of these infections in Northern Ireland (NI), along with the number of respiratory care home outbreaks, hospital admissions and occupancy, and deaths.

Pertussis (also known as “whooping cough”) is a highly contagious but vaccine preventable bacterial respiratory disease that is usually caused by Bordetella pertussis. It is normally characterised by a “whooping” cough, cold and fever.