Escardi Influenza A halts after five weeks of increase, revenue also down

The Basque Health Service (Osakidetza) observes that viral transmission and healthcare pressures from respiratory diseases, namely influenza A (the most common this season), COVID-19 and RSV (whose main derivative is bronchiolitis) dropped. ). Specifically, based on data collected from January 15 to 21, the infection rate was 562.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared with a peak of 717.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants the previous week. As for those admitted, there are about 460 people. These figures are estimates used to monitor the evolution of all acute respiratory infections since the end of the pandemic was declared.

“The incidence of influenza syndrome has declined after increasing for five consecutive weeks,” Osakidetza said. The incidence of bronchiolitis, which particularly affects children under two years old, has remained stable but has dropped significantly over the Christmas period. There is also a downward trend in COVID-19 circulation. Under regulations implemented by the Ministry of Health in early 2024, all infections must fall for two consecutive weeks before the mandatory use of masks in hospitals and outpatient centers can be lifted. It’s been two weeks since the bill was implemented, and the Basque region was highly critical of it but ultimately accepted it.

Influenza A remains the predominant variant among the different variants available. This week, 536 influenza virus samples have been analyzed, 340 of which were type A, and in a more detailed analysis, 149 were of the H1N1 subtype of the 2009 influenza pandemic. So far, 99.8% of influenza virus samples have been analyzed. Influenza A cases accounted for only 0.2%, and influenza B cases accounted for only 0.2%. These vaccines are multipurpose and protect against many different strains of this pathogen.

Taking a more specific COVID-19 example, there were 98 hospitalizations over seven days, compared to 110 the week before. During the Christmas period, almost all large hospitals in the Basque Country had extra beds. Almost 90% are over 90 years old. There are 15 nursing homes with outbreaks, 8 fewer than previously released data. All Sars-Cov-2 sequenced are from omicron variants that arrived in late 2021. 80% are from the JN.1 sublineage, although there are also confirmed cases of BA.2.86, JD.1.1 and BA.2, according to the Osakidetza laboratory.