In the past week (10-2023), the number of people with flu-like complaints who visited your GP decreased. Influenza virus (influenza virus) is still often found in throat and nose samples taken from people who have reported flu-like symptoms to their GP – Reports of the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
Hospital labs also still find many influenza viruses. In addition to the influenza virus, other viruses circulate in the Netherlands that cause respiratory complaints. Such as RS (respiratory syncytial) virus, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus-coronavirus (coronavirus)-2, human metavirus, and rhinovirus.
The number of people visiting a GP with flu-like symptoms in the last week (from 27 February to 5 March 2023) fell to 25 in 100,000 people, compared to 40 in 100,000 in the previous week. This is below the epidemic limit of 58 per 100,000 people for the seventh straight week. Typically, an influenza epidemic ends when the number of people visiting a GP with flu-like symptoms is below the epidemic threshold for two consecutive weeks. However, for now, there is still plenty of influenza virus found in throat and nasal samples taken by GPs at Neville sentinel stations from patients with a flu-like illness.
Of the 16 samples taken from patients with a flu-like illness, 56% tested positive for the influenza virus in the past week. In the 31 samples, patients with acute respiratory infection (including patients with influenza-like illness) were collected 7 times (23%) type B (Victoria line), and 5 times (16%) type B (Victoria line). A (H1N1) pdm09 and type A (H3N2) were found 2 times (6%). In addition to influenza virus, other viruses were also detected, such as SARS-CoV-2 (3 times, 10%), RS virus (1 time, 3%), human seasonal coronavirus (1 time, 3%) and hMPV (1 time, 3%). Human) Metapneumovirus) (1 times, 3%).
(Source Piqsels – 2023)
A woman with the flu
We also see in the data from labs and hospitals that a lot of influenza viruses are still being detected. In the viral weekly reports, the number of influenza A virus cases detected remained the same as in the previous week. The number of detected cases of influenza type B virus has decreased further in the past week. The number of RS and hMPV virus detections has decreased further in the past week. However, not all labs reported their data for the past week, so the numbers will likely continue to rise. The influenza virus was also detected in tests conducted as part of the Infection Radar Self-Test Study, but in much lower proportions.
Influenza Weekly Overview Influenza News Europe: Week 9/2023 (February 27 – March 5, 2023)
– The percentage of all primary care samples of patients with symptoms of suspected influenza or ARI who tested positive for influenza virus decreased from 27% in the previous week to 24% in week 9/2023, which remains above the epidemic threshold (10%) .
– 17 countries or regions out of 39 countries reported medium or high intensity and 21 of 39 countries reported widespread activity, indicating the spread of seasonal influenza virus throughout the region.
Of the 24 countries reporting influenza virus positivity in primary care above the 10% epidemic threshold, Hungary, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovenia reported activity above 40%.
Influenza type A and type B viruses were detected in sentinel and non-sentry surveillance, with influenza type B prevalent in both systems.
Hospitalized patients with confirmed influenza virus infection reported from ICU (similar rates of A(H1) and B viruses), other departments (influenza A viruses only), and SARI control (similar rates of A(H1)pdm09 viruses). and type B). Six countries or territories have reported positive rates for influenza virus above 10% in acute respiratory tract (SARI) surveillance.
Qualitative indicators. For week 9/2023, of the 39 countries and territories reporting intensity of influenza activity, 10 reported baseline intensity (across region), 12 reported low severity (across region), 16 reported moderate severity (across region), and One country reported higher severity (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Of the 39 countries and territories reporting geographical distribution of influenza viruses, 7 countries reported sporadic distribution (Azerbaijan, Belgium, Ireland, Kazakhstan, United Kingdom (England), United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) and Uzbekistan), 4 countries reported local distribution (Lithuania , Malta), Slovakia and United Kingdom (Scotland)), 7 regional distributions reported (Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Kosovo (according to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)) and 21 large-scale activities reported Report it (around the region).
