Healthcare, flu infections decreasing. From the ISS: “The peak has passed”
Finally the virusflu loosens its grip after a record season for incidence (and consequent serious cases). The latest RespiVirNet bulletin fromthe Higher Institute of Health, relating to the first week of 2024, reports that the incidence has dropped (after several weeks of uninterrupted growth) to 16.5 cases per thousand assisted, while in the previous week the peak was reached with 18.3, which remains the highest figure in the last 15 years so far, that is, since there has been weekly monitoring.
The proportion of flu-positive samples out of the total samples analyzed also fell (34% vs 46%). As expected, almost all cases refer to the viral strain of what 15 years ago was improperly called “swine”: in fact, among the influenza viruses detected, type A viruses are largely prevalent (99%) compared to type B viruses and mostly belong to the H1N1pdm09 subtype.
The incidence is clearly decreasing in pediatric age groups and more so in children under five years of age where the incidence is equal to 33.6 cases per thousand assisted (47.2 in the previous week), stable in adults and the elderly.
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All the Regions among those that have activated surveillance record an incidence level of flu-like syndromes above the baseline threshold. The number of Regions in which the “very high” incidence intensity threshold has been reached has dropped to two (Abruzzo, Sardinia).
“Although it is always difficult to make predictions on the progress of the season, such a sharp decline suggests that the peak has been reached – states Antonino Bella, head of RespiVirNet epidemiological surveillance and editor of the epidemiological bulletin – however, 'upward' fluctuations are possible, especially in children, favored by the reopening of schools”.
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Among the samples that have tested positive since the start of the season, 19% are positive for SARS-CoV-2, 12% for RSV, 44% for influenza A, while the remainder are positive for other respiratory viruses. “Virological data confirm that influenza viruses prevail among circulating respiratory viruses – says Simona Puzelli, head of RespiVirNet virological surveillance and editor of the virological report. In particular, among type A influenza viruses the prevalent subtype is H1N1pdm09, which represents 77.7% of all influenza viruses identified so far in the 2023-2024 season.”
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