Influenza activity continues to be high in the community and during the week (February 26-March 3), there were 3 new cases with ED hospitalizations and 2 new deaths. According to the epidemiological report of the EODY, all indicators of SARS-CoV2 register a decrease.

SARS-CoV2 virus – COVID-19 infection

The positivity in all tested samples showed a decrease compared to the previous week.

The number of admissions (n=208) showed a 44% decrease compared to the average weekly number of admissions in the previous 4 weeks (n=371) and was lower than the number of admissions in the corresponding week of 2023 (n=925).

The number of new intubations (n=1) showed a decrease compared to the average weekly number of new intubations over the previous 4 weeks (n=5) and was lower than the number of intubations in the corresponding week of 2023 (n=33). The number of intubated patients with COVID-19 infection is 22.

There were 12 deaths with a median age of 86.5 years (range 70-93 years). The number of deaths showed a decrease compared to the average weekly number of deaths in the previous 4 weeks (n=30) and was lower than the number of deaths in the corresponding week in 2023 (n=96).

The most common sub-variant of BA.2 remains JN.1 (>75% over the last few weeks), followed by BA.2.86 (based on latest available data).

Viral load surveillance in municipal wastewater showed a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in all 10 areas tested.

Influenza virus

Influenza positivity in the community (sentinel network) remains above 10% (seasonal threshold for initiation of epidemic influenza activity according to ECDC) and showed a decrease compared to the previous week. The positivity of SARI samples also showed a decrease compared to the previous week. 3 new serious cases with hospitalization in ICU and 2 new deaths from laboratory confirmed influenza were recorded.

In addition, 1 severe case of laboratory-confirmed influenza with hospitalization in the ICU was retrospectively reported.

A total of 132 people with laboratory-confirmed influenza have been hospitalized in the ICU since the start of influenza surveillance, and 60 deaths from laboratory-confirmed influenza have been recorded.

596 influenza strains (derived from community sentinel samples, from SARI surveillance samples and from hospital samples outside surveillance networks) have been typed, of which 515 (86%) were type A and 81 (14%) were type B. Overall, subtyped in the two Influenza Reference Centers 482 type A strains. 447 (93%) belonged to the A(H1) pdm09 subtype and 35 (7%) to the A(H3) subtype.

Influenza-like illness – ILI (regardless of pathogen)

The number of influenza cases per 1,000 visits showed a slight decrease compared to the previous week.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infection – SARI (regardless of pathogen)

The number of SARI cases per 1,000 visits showed a slight decrease compared to the previous week.

Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV

RSV positivity showed a small increase compared to the previous week in the community (PHC Sentinel network) and a decrease in hospitals (SARI surveillance network).