There has been an increase in positivity compared to last week, while there has been an upward trend in hospitalizations of coronavirus patients, according to the National Public Health Organization’s (EODY) weekly report on respiratory infections.
Hospitalizations last week reached 788, while 35 deaths were recorded due to complications from Covid-19.
The novel F456L and R346T mutations are prevalent but have not been associated with an increased risk of severe disease.
EODY recommends that vulnerable population groups (elderly people and people with underlying diseases) meticulously observe preventive measures against respiratory infections and seek medical advice in time for symptoms in order to provide timely treatment.
At the same time, the general population is recommended, in the presence of symptoms of respiratory infection, to limit contact with people belonging to vulnerable groups.
Below is the EODY report:
Influenza-like illness – ILI (irrespective of pathogen)
- The number of flu cases per 1,000 visits remains low.
Severe Acute Respiratory Infection – SARI (regardless of the pathogen)
- The number of SARI cases per 1,000 visits remains low.
SARS-CoV2 virus – COVID-19 infection
- There continues to be an increase in virus activity, with a growing trend in hospital admissions.
- Positivity in all samples tested increased compared to the previous week.
- The number of new imports was 788 and shows an increasing trend. The average weekly number of new admissions in the previous four weeks was 551, and the number of admissions in the corresponding week in 2023 was 306.
- The number of new intubations was six. The average weekly number of new intubations in the previous four weeks was eight, and the number of intubations in the corresponding week in 2023 was seven.
- The number of intubated patients with COVID-19 infection is 17.
- The number of deaths was 35. The average weekly number of deaths in the previous four weeks was 23 and the number of deaths in the corresponding week in 2023 was 17.
- There is an increasing trend of BA.2.86 carrying at least one of the F456L and R346T mutations, with predominance in recent weeks. Note that this category of variant strains was not associated with an increased risk of severe disease.
- Surveillance of viral load in municipal wastewater showed an increase in SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in six of the ten areas tested.
Influenza virus
- No positive samples for influenza were found either in the community (CSP Sentinel surveillance network) or in hospitals (SARS surveillance network).
- No new serious cases requiring ICU admission were recorded, nor were there any new laboratory-confirmed deaths from influenza.
- From week 40/2023 to week 29/2024, 149 people with laboratory-confirmed influenza were admitted to the ICU and 71 deaths from laboratory-confirmed influenza were recorded.
- From week 40/2023 to week 29/2024, 1,064 influenza strains were typed (derived from community sentinel samples, SARS surveillance samples and hospital samples outside surveillance networks), of which 557 (52%) were type A and 507 (48%) type B. From the 10th week onwards, there is a prevalence of type B, both in the community (CSP Sentinel surveillance network) and in hospitals (SARS surveillance network).
- In total, 539 type A strains were subtyped in the two Influenza Reference Centers, 494 (92%) belonged to the A(H1)pdm09 subtype and 45 (8%) to the A(H3) subtype.
Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV
- No positive samples were found either in the community (CSP Sentinel surveillance network) or in hospitals (SARS surveillance network).