In total, 205 new influenza cases and 1,494 COVID-19 cases were added this week
In week eleven, a grand total of 3,062 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections. Overall, 34.1% of all of the new cases involved children. In total, 205 new influenza cases were registered. A total of 1,494 new COVID-19 cases were also added.
Based on information which had been logged during the Sentinel targeted survey, infections are currently spreading at a moderate rate, with the spread of the influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses remaining extensive.
In total, 58.8% of those Sentinel samples which were analysed were found to be positive for influenza-type viruses. The percentage of influenza B samples has increased, now forming 29.4% of all Sentinel samples to have been analysed. The SARS-CoV-2 virus forms 17.6% of all positive samples, and rhinoviruses 11.8%.
In total, ninety influenza cases were confirmed through laboratory testing, including twenty-one influenza A cases and sixty-nine influenza B cases. A total of ten different influenza A sub-types and eleven influenza B sub-types were identified through accurate testing. There are three sub-types of influenza in circulation: the A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm2009 sub-types of influenza A and the Victoria sub-type of influenza B, with the Victoria sub-type of influenza B dominating.
The declining trend in the number of new influenza cases has slowed down. The number of new cases increased by 22.4% amongst toddlers but remains at a stable level in other age groups.
According to initial information from the Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre, twenty-eight patients were hospitalised with influenza. In total, 1,129 people have hospitalised due to influenza since the beginning of the season. A total of 69.4% of those individuals have been over the age of fifty. The number of hospitalisation cases is showing a slowly declining trend.
According to conclusively-validated information on the part of the National Institute for Health Development regarding causes of death, as many as fifty-four people have died due to influenza. Those individuals were aged between nine and 97.
In total, 1,494 COVID-19 cases were confirmed over the week. Compared to the week before, the overall number of registered cases has increased by 19.2%. Two new welfare institution outbreaks have been added and the number of cases which have been identified in welfare institutions has increased when compared to last week.
As of Tuesday morning, a total of 149 people are in hospital due to COVID-19, of which fifty-five required treatment due to the presence of symptomatic COVID-19. This week saw eight deaths being added to the overall total, involving individuals between the ages of 60-94. All of those individuals had serious underlying illnesses.
The immunoprophylaxis expert committee updated the advice for getting vaccinated against COVID-19 for the spring and summer seasons. Please see a cheat sheet which provides a simplified overview of the advice via the following website: https://www.sm.ee/media/3042/download.