The positivity for SARS-CoV2 in the community remains stable, while the hard indicators – hospitalizations, intubations and deaths – show an increaseaccording to the epidemiological report of EODY for the period December 2-8. Influenza positivity in the community continues its upward trend. In the last week they were recorded two new serious cases of influenza with hospitalization in ICU.

In particular, the EODY report states:

Influenza-like illness – ILI (regardless of pathogen)

The number of influenza cases per 1,000 visits appears to be on the rise, showing 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 is low.

SARS-CoV2 virus – COVID-19 infection

The positivity in all tested samples remained at the same levels compared to the previous week.

The number of new arrivals showed a slight increase compared to the previous week. 632 new imports were recorded. The average weekly number of new admissions over the previous 4 weeks was 565.

The number of new intubations was 11. The average weekly number of new intubations over the previous 4 weeks was nine. The number of intubated patients with COVID-19 infection is 21.

The death toll was 28. The average weekly number of deaths in the previous 4 weeks was 27.

Since the beginning of the year, the recorded deaths in serious cases (intubated and/or with hospitalization in ICU) amount to 322.

The strain that continues to dominate detections is KP.3, while XEC shows an upward trend.

Nationally, the weighted viral load in municipal wastewater is at moderate levels compared to historical data, showing a small increase from the previous week. More specifically, in one of the ten controlled areas the levels of the viral load appear high (with no appreciable change compared to the previous week), in three moderate (with a recorded increase in one area compared to the previous week), while in the remaining areas levels are low.

Influenza virus

Influenza positivity in the community (as assessed by the PHC Sentinel Surveillance Network) exceeded the threshold indicating the onset of seasonal influenza activity (10%). continuing its upward trend.

The positivity of SARI surveillance network samples is also showing an upward trend.

Two new serious cases with hospitalization in ICU were recorded, while no new death was recorded from laboratory-confirmed influenza.

In total, there have been five 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.

Among 1,005 samples (Sentinel community origin, SARI surveillance and hospitals outside surveillance networks), 20 (2%) positive samples for influenza viruses were found, namely 19 type A and one type B.

Of the 19 A-type strains subtyped, five (26%) belonged to the A(H3) subtype and 14 (74%) to the A(H1)pdm09 subtype.

Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV

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