Influenza Incidence in Latvia Decreases, but the Epidemic Is Not Cancelled 0 9

In the outpatient medical institutions participating in the monitoring, a 41.9% decrease in influenza incidence was recorded last week, down to 110.6 cases per 100,000 residents, while the previous week it was 190.4 cases per 100,000 residents.

Influenza cases were registered in eight out of ten monitored areas, with the highest incidence in Jelgava - 325.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

As before, the highest incidence of influenza is observed among children under the age of 14.

At the same time, the number of visits to outpatient medical institutions for other acute respiratory infections decreased by 6.7% - to 1,371.9 cases per 100,000 residents, while the previous week it was recorded at 1,469.7 cases per 100,000 residents.

In turn, the number of patients who sought medical care for pneumonia increased by 17.9% - to 67.9 cases per 100,000 residents, while the previous week this figure was 57.6 cases per 100,000 residents. Pneumonia was more frequently detected in children, especially those under four years old.

In inpatient medical institutions, the number of patients with severe acute respiratory infections decreased last week - 249 patients were hospitalized, while the previous week there were 287. The proportion of such patients was 5.2% of all hospitalized, while the previous week it was 6.5%.

Last week, eight reports of deaths of patients with confirmed influenza were received, and a total of 44 reports since the beginning of the influenza season. 39 of the deceased patients (88.6%) were not vaccinated against influenza and had multiple comorbidities.

The proportion of positive tests for "Covid-19" decreased last week to 3.7%, while the previous week it was 4.6%. During the week, 31 patients with "Covid-19" were admitted to hospitals, and three cases of death of patients with confirmed "Covid-19" were also registered.