Nine new influenza cases and 2,191 COVID-19 cases were added this week

In week 45, a grand total of 3,305 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections. Overall, 38% of all of the new cases involved children. Nine new influenza A cases were confirmed through laboratory tests, including eight influenza A cases and one influenza B case. A total of 2,191 new COVID-19 cases were added, of which 490 were confirmed through laboratory testing.

Based on information which had been logged during a targeted survey of acute upper respiratory tract infections (with this survey being known as ‘Sentinel Monitoring’), it can be seen that the intensity of the spread of viruses is low, with just a few influenza cases being registered. Compared to figures for last week, the number of new cases increased amongst children up to the age of four and aged 5-14 by 13.6% and 5.5% respectively. The number of new cases amongst the elderly dropped by 23.5%. The majority of cases still involved children up to the age of five.

Based on the targeted survey of acute upper respiratory tract infections (Sentinel Monitoring), parainfluenza viruses and the RS virus could be seen to have increased when compared to the previous week.  

According to the Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre, eleven patients have been hospitalised due to influenza since the beginning of the season, including three children from the under-four years of age group, plus four people from the 20-64 age group, and four elderly patients.

The number of new COVID-19 cases has dropped by 4.6% when compared to figures for the week before. The spread of COVID-19 is showing an increasing trend amongst children and in the 45-49 age group. Based on the number of registered cases, the situation is currently stable. The number of outbreaks which have been registered in social care institutions and the number of cases which have been identified have both decreased when compared to figures for last week. Based on the sequencing data, the Omicron variant share amongst newly registered cases is at 100%. Taking into consideration the characteristics of the variants of the virus which are currently spreading around Europe and elsewhere in the world, there is no reason to forecast some of the other variants possibly becoming prevalent in the near future.

As of Wednesday morning, a total of 163 people are in hospital due to COVID-19, of which fifty-eight required treatment due to symptomatic COVID-19. This week also saw fifteen deaths being added to the overall total, involving individuals who were aged between 16-92. All of those individuals had serious underlying illnesses. 

We would like to remind everyone that this year additional vaccinations against influenza are available, free of charge, for anyone who would normally receive general or special care services, plus anyone who is over the age of sixty, pregnant women, children up to the age of seven, and all minors who are included in any risk groups.

The expert committee on immunoprophylactic issues primarily advises all risk group members to get a second COVID-19 vaccine booster shot six months after their previous dose of the vaccine or after recovering from COVID-19. According to the committee, this should include all individuals over the age of sixty, and anyone who is over the age of twelve and who is at a higher level of risk in terms of potentially suffering a severe case of COVID-19 due to the presence of a chronic disease. It also includes care home residents, employees, and healthcare workers. Further information is available at: www.vaktsineeri.ee

Further statistical data on the spread of influenza can be found here.

The epidemiological COVID-19 overview can be found here (PDF).