Influenza positivity in the community has been on the rise, as have cases of influenza in the past week. There was a slight decrease in positivity for SARS-CoV2 in the community, according to the epidemiological report of EODY.

SARS-CoV2 virus – COVID-19 infection

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

The number of new imports showed a slight decrease compared to the previous week. 577 new imports were recorded. The average weekly number of new admissions over the previous 4 weeks was 558.

The number of new intubations was six. The average weekly number of new intubations during the previous 4 weeks was 12. The number of patients with COVID-19 infection hospitalized with intubation is 26.

The death toll was 24, matching the average weekly number of deaths over the previous 4 weeks.

Since the beginning of the year, the recorded deaths in serious cases (intubated and/or with hospitalization in ICU) amount to 313.

As of September 27, the KP.3 sub-variant of BA.2.86 was identified by ECDC as a strain of interest, while the XEC sub-variant of BA.2.86 was also put under surveillance. Both KP.3 and XEC have not been associated with an increased risk of severe disease. The strain that continues to dominate detections is KP.3, while XEC shows an upward trend.

Influenza virus

Influenza positivity in the community (as assessed by the PHC Sentinel Surveillance Network) is on the rise. No positive samples for influenza were detected by the SARI surveillance network.

There were no new serious cases with hospitalization in the ICU, nor a new death from laboratory-confirmed influenza.

Influenza-like illness – ILI (regardless of pathogen)

The number of influenza cases per 1,000 visits shows an upward trend.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infection – SARI (regardless of pathogen)

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

Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV

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