Influenza

Medical experts have observed the first signs of easing in the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and other seasonal viral infections in children in recent days, following an intense and escalating outbreak.

Health authorities on Thursday announced that 141 patients with Covid-19 and three with flu died in the week from December 26 to January 1. 

The Covid-related fatalities had a median age of 84 years, ranging from 2 years to 102 years, the National Organization for Public Health's (EODY) weekly epidemiological report for respiratory infections said.

The subvariant of the coronavirus: Omicron XBB.1.5, which in just a few weeks has become dominant in the United States, may cause a new wave, a representative of the World Health Organization told reporters.

"Bulgaria is at the beginning of a flu wave, as the H3N2 and H1N1 strains are currently predominant in our country", announced the chief state health inspector Prof. Angel Kunchev.

"At the moment, the rate of hospitalizations is normal. There is no evidence of a severe course," he assured.

According to him, climatic conditions do not lead to a flu wave.

Romania is on the verge of a flu epidemic, Digi24 TV reports. The high temperatures in the country for the last few days favor the activity of viruses, noted the media in our northern neighbor, BTA reported.

The destructive effect of COVID-19 has gradually disappeared, the number of daily cases has decreased, but the rules of "mask-distance-hygiene" should also be followed to protect against the recently increasing cases of seasonal flu, an expert has stated.

"Influenza isolation is increasing. We had an earlier season and we were finding mostly influenza A H3N2, but over time we are finding more of the other one - H1N1, and now they are even. Cases of flu and acute respiratory illnesses are doubling in two weeks, and this trend will continue in January, peaking in February." This is what Prof.

Flu is back this season, and with the influenza viruses getting even stronger, now is the right time to get vaccination shots, says an expert.

The lethality rate of COVID is lower than the flu as the virus has mutated and caused only a milder illness, a member of the Coronavirus Science board has said.

"I don't tend to make predictions about how severe the flu wave will be, but there are two reasons why experts are particularly cautious. One is the data from the Southern Hemisphere, where Australia and New Zealand have faced their worst flu epidemic since 5- 6 years. The other reason is that public immunity to influenza has declined during the pandemic."