Navarre, Spain, flu and COVID-19 incidence and hospital admissions increase in first week of year

There have been 135 admissions to hospital with influenza, 65 with Covid-19 and 14 with respiratory syncytial virus.

The incidence of respiratory viruses and hospitalizations in Navarre continued to increase during the first week of the year. Influenza, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus are all at epidemic levels; with influenza being “high and increasing in severity”.

The epidemiological report of the Institute of Public Health and Occupational Health of Navarra for the week of January 1 to 7 shows an increase in the number of visits for acute respiratory infections in primary care. The rate is 1,234 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, of which 233 per 100,000 are influenza syndrome and 83 per 100,000 are covid-19.

The number of people hospitalized with flu has reached 135, “albeit at a slower pace” – down from 116 the previous week. Among subtype influenza cases, 86% were influenza A H1N1 and 14% were influenza A H3N2. The spread of covid-19 is increasing and has resulted in 65 admissions to hospital (up from 29 admissions the previous week). Transmission of respiratory syncytial virus decreased, with 24 confirmed cases, 14 of whom were hospitalized (compared to 25 the previous week).

In addition, the incidence of other bacterial respiratory infections is also high, such as pneumococcus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, whooping cough, etc.

In the report, Public Health highlighted that “flu waves are earlier than in other years and flu spread more frequently during the Christmas period, which has a greater impact on hospitalizations than primary care visits. .” The number of hospital admissions due to influenza is “slightly higher than recorded in other seasons, although this may be partly due to increased sensitivity in detecting influenza cases (increased PCR testing) and an increase in influenza cases since the pandemic”. There is an increase in the elderly population,” he explained.

Waves of flu visits “precede waves of primary care consultations” during the holidays. He noted that as teaching and work activities resume, “it is foreseeable that cases in primary care will increase and hospital admissions will stabilize or decrease.”

Therefore, in order to avoid severe respiratory infection cases in vulnerable groups (infants, the elderly or people with chronic diseases) and those around them, public health authorities recommend maintaining preventive measures such as covid-19 vaccination and influenza vaccination as recommended below Health authorities, physical distance between people, use of masks and adequate ventilation.

Overall mortality rate in Navarra

In the week of December 25-31, 149 deaths were recorded, an increase compared with previous weeks, “although still within the range observed at this time in other years”.