SARS-CoV2 positivity in the community is increasing, as are admissions and intubations.

Influenza cases are also on the rise. Influenza activity is at low levels.

In the last week, according to the epidemiological report of the EODY for the period 18-24 November, two new serious cases with hospitalization in ICU and one new death from laboratory-confirmed influenza were recorded.

The EODY report

Influenza-like illness – ILI (regardless of pathogen)

The number of influenza cases per 1,000 visits is low and showing an upward trend.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infection – SARI (regardless of pathogen)

The number of SARI cases per 1,000 visits is low.

SARS-CoV2 virus – COVID-19 infection

The positivity in all tested samples showed an increase compared to the previous week.

The number of new imports showed an increase compared to the previous week. 614 new imports were recorded. The average weekly number of new admissions over the previous 4 weeks was 538.

The number of new intubations was 12. The average weekly number of new intubations over the previous 4 weeks was ten. The number of intubated patients with COVID-19 infection is 22.

The number of deaths was 26. The average weekly number of deaths in the previous 4 weeks was 24.

Since the beginning of the year, the recorded deaths in serious cases (intubated and/or with hospitalization in ICU) amount to 309.

The strain that continues to dominate detections is KP.3.

Nationally, the weighted viral load in municipal wastewater is at very low levels compared to historical data, showing a decrease compared to the previous week. More specifically, in one of the nine controlled areas the levels of the viral load appear high (with a recorded increase compared to the previous week), in one medium (with a recorded decrease compared to the previous week), while in the remaining areas the levels are low.

Influenza virus

Influenza positivity as assessed by surveillance networks in the community (PHC Sentinel Surveillance Network) and in the hospital setting (SARI Surveillance Network) is low, with detection of only sporadic positive samples. Two new serious cases with hospitalization in ICU and one new death from laboratory-confirmed influenza were recorded. In total, there have been three laboratory-confirmed cases with ICU hospitalization and one death from laboratory-confirmed influenza since the start of influenza surveillance.

Since the beginning of the year, the recorded deaths in serious cases with laboratory-confirmed influenza amount to 62.

Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV

No positive samples were found in the community (PHC Sentinel surveillance network), nor in hospitals (SARI surveillance network).

EODY notes that both influenza and COVID-19 infection are associated with a significant number of deaths among severe cases, with COVID-19 infection predominating over influenza. It is recommended that people who meet the requirements for vaccination, especially those at higher risk of serious outcomes (the elderly and people with underlying diseases), get vaccinated for both diseases.