The Spread of Influenza Remains at a Low Level 0 9

Influenza has been clinically confirmed in four patients, which means the average incidence rate is 5.9 cases per 100,000 residents, an increase of 36.2% compared to the previous week when there were 4.3 cases per 100,000 residents. Three cases of influenza were registered in Jurmala and one in Riga.

In hospitals, eight cases of influenza have been laboratory confirmed - five cases of type A virus and three of type B.

Since the beginning of the season, 17 cases of influenza have been registered. In the past week and since the start of the influenza season, there have been no reports of deaths among patients with confirmed influenza or suspected cases.

With other acute respiratory infections, 750 patients visited family doctors in the past week, which is 14% less than the previous week.

27 patients with pneumonia were admitted to hospitals, which is 13.8% less compared to the previous week.

The proportion of patients with respiratory infections accounts for 14% of the total number of visits to family doctors.

Last week, there was a slight increase in the proportion of positive influenza tests in inpatient medical facilities. Last week, 214 patients were tested for influenza in hospitals, with four cases returning positive results, including three patients with type A influenza and one with type B influenza.

The proportion of positive samples for the "Covid-19" infection decreased last week: 403 patients were tested, of which 42, or 10.4%, had positive results. The week before, the virus was confirmed in 11.2% of cases.

At the same time, last week, 36 new patients with "Covid-19" were admitted to hospitals, which is two more than the previous week. A total of 80 patients with this infection were treated in hospitals, of which 29 patients, or 36.3%, had the primary diagnosis of "Covid-19".

Last week, two deaths were registered among patients with laboratory-confirmed "Covid-19" infection. Since the beginning of the influenza monitoring season, a total of 19 deaths among patients with "Covid-19" have been recorded.

As reported, this season in Latvia, the government budget has purchased 1.9% more influenza vaccines than last year - a total of 133,120 doses.

The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) urges residents to consider and plan for influenza vaccination, emphasizing that the best time for vaccination against influenza is late October or early November.

This season, three types of influenza vaccines are available to residents, adapted to the circulating strains of the virus: "Vaxigrip" - a standard injectable vaccine for the population aged 6 months to 59 years, a high-dose injectable vaccine "Efluelda" for people aged 60 and over, and a nasal vaccine "Fluenz" for children aged 2 to 17 years who are at risk for health reasons.