The incidence of influenza in Aragon has decreased, from 334.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous week to 231.5. This is the first time the autonomous region has seen a decline since it exceeded the epidemic threshold in the week of December 18-24, 2023, when it reached 69.8 cases. The threshold is 59.6 cases.
The same happened with the incidence of acute respiratory diseases, which increased from 1,368.3 to 1,071.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In this group, there is no epidemic threshold, since it is obtained from the average of the historical series for which this indicator is not available, since this is the third season in which it is measured and is a period of at least five years.
Influenza incidence data by week since Aragon exceeded the epidemic threshold are as follows:
- December 18-24, 2023: 69.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
- December 25-31, 2023: 167.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- January 1-7, 2024: 303.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- January 8-14, 2024: 334.7 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- January 15-21, 2024: 231.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence data for acute respiratory infections during the same week are:
- December 18-24, 2023: 1,033.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
- December 25-31, 2023: 1,184.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- January 1-7, 2024: 1,330 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- January 8-14, 2024: 1,368.3 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- January 15-21, 2024: 1,071.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.
by province
Looking at provinces, the incidence rate in each province declined in the last week from January 15th to 21st. In Zaragoza, influenza cases increased from 358.8 to 251.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, and acute respiratory infection cases increased from 1,358.2 to 1,086.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
In Huesca, influenza cases fell from 230.7 to 162.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, and acute respiratory infection cases from 1,222.4 to 896.5 per 100,000 inhabitants; in Teruel from 329.1 to 196.6 and from 1,694.2 to 1,259.5.
Flu vaccination
There are 313,035 doses of influenza vaccine administered in the 2023-2024 season, including 16,104 doses for the 0 to 4-year-old age group and 200,290 doses for the 65-year-old and older age group. The campaign started in early October for high-risk groups and has been open to the general public since January 15.
In the first week of the agenda open to all Aragonese, 10,598 doses of influenza vaccine have been administered in Aragon. The vast majority – nearly 6,800 people – were in age groups not included in the original instructions for the campaign.
440 children aged 6 months to 4 years also benefit from this protection; a further 3,700 people aged 60 and over. The vaccination rate among children in Aragon is 41.4%, and the total is 57.8%.
In this way, opening up vaccination to the entire population and calling for vaccination improves immunization among groups considered to be at higher risk of influenza complications.