The spread of viruses is showing a growing trend: 804 new influenza cases and 2,991 COVID-19 cases were added this week

In week 49, a grand total of 5,338 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections. Overall, 41% of all of the new cases involved children. The spread of viruses remained at the same level as for the previous week. In total, 804 new influenza cases were registered, of which 160 were confirmed through laboratory testing. A total of 2,991 new COVID-19 cases were added.

The number of new influenza cases increased by 245% within the week, with the number of hospitalisations also growing by 60%. According to Olga Sadikova, chief specialist at the Health Board’s Influenza Centre, the intensity of the spread of the virus may be deemed to be at average levels. The spread of influenza remains constant and extensive. ‘The majority of the new cases involve children up to the age of five. The previous increase in the number of new cases amongst children has now halted, with the current spread mainly increasing at the expense of working age people,’ she added, admitting that the influenza spread is worryingly rapid.

In week 49, influenza A viruses formed 25% of all ‘Sentinel’ samples to be analysed.

A third of all individuals who have fallen ill with influenza are working age people. Cases involving RS virus and human metapneumovirus form 10% each of the overall figure. Human metapneumovirus-related cases are primarily being registered amongst children, while approximately 70% of all RS virus-related cases involve either children up to the age of four or the elderly. Parainfluenza, rhinovirus, and SARS-CoV-2 cases all form 6% of the total.

Since the beginning of the season, seventy-three influenza A cases have been identified, including sixty-five cases involving the influenza A(H3) strain and eight cases involving the A(H1) strain.

According to the Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre, twenty-four patients were hospitalised last week due to influenza. Since the beginning of the season, a total of fifty-four patients have been hospitalised due to influenza, with children and adolescents forming 42.6% of the figure, working age people 20.7%, and elderly patients 29.6%. The first influenza virus-related death was also registered last week (involving an 87 year-old individual).

In total, 2,991 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed over the week, with the number of registered cases increasing by 10%. The highest increase was observed in the over-eighty age group. One more welfare institution outbreak was added, with the result that there are now three welfare institution outbreaks in Estonia. The ‘R’ infection ratio remains stable. The spread of SARS-Cov-2 is still extensive.

As of Tuesday morning, a total of 266 people are in hospital due to COVID-19, of which ninety-one required treatment due to the presence of symptomatic COVID-19. The average number of new symptomatic COVID-19 cases over seven days has grown from 8.7 to 10.3. This week saw fifteen deaths being added to the overall total. All of those individuals had serious underlying illnesses. As many as 60% of all patients who have been hospitalised due to symptomatic COVID-19 had not been vaccinated or had not completed the vaccination process. On the other hand, the share of patients who require hospital treatment due to symptomatic COVID-19 has largely remained stable. Taking into consideration the increased spread of the disease amongst the elderly, the number of new hospitalisation cases is highly likely to continue to grow over the next few weeks.

According to Sadikova, the spread of influenza and COVID-19 are both showing an increasing trend. ‘We would like to remind everyone that influenza and COVID-19 are both serious diseases, and vaccines are available for both as an important preventive measure,’ she said.

If you have fallen seriously ill with one of the upper respiratory tract viruses, please contact your family physician or contact the family physician advisory line (1220). If you exhibit any symptoms of a virus, avoid close contact with your loved ones and stay at home until the symptoms disappear. Do not, under any circumstances, go to work or school when you are ill. Further information about treatment and other advice in the case of an influenza infection can be found here. (PDF)