Flu cases likely reaching peak, health officials believe

The flu is continuing to spread in Catalonia, increasing from 375 to 439 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and exceeding the 'very high' level of transmission threshold according to the Information System for Infection Surveillance in Catalonia (SIVIC).

The health department's data corresponds to last week and was updated again this Tuesday. Officials from the health department believe that the peak has probably already been reached.

Another piece of data collected by SIVIC is flu diagnoses in primary care: from January 13 to 19, there were 244 cases per 100,000 inhabitants diagnosed in CAPs, while the threshold for 'very high' rate of transmission is 219.

Last year, the peak came earlier and was at a rate of 192 diagnoses.

Acute respiratory infections have increased in recent days, with 966 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the equivalent of around 77,382 cases in Catalonia. This represents a slight decrease compared to the previous week's data and places the level of transmission at 'moderate'.

Influenza is the most common of acute respiratory infections with 45% of samples, up from 38%, followed by rhinovirus (11.4%) and respiratory syncytial virus (7.6%), which are decreasing.

Among children, influenza A is the type that is circulating the most, with 36% of positives, followed by influenza B, with 28%, and RSV, with 5.2%.

Flu cases

Flu cases have continued to rise in recent days, with an estimated rate of 439 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Hospitalizations are down, and 55% needing medical attention are over the age of 60.

Health officials believe that the peak of the epidemic has "probably" already been reached and the rate of infection is expected to begin to decline in the coming weeks.

Last year, the peak had been reached a few days earlier and the estimated maximum was 363 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Vaccination coverage

Anyone living in Catalonia can sign up to the public health service and request a free flu vaccination. See how Catalonia's health system works here.

Only 37% of people over 60 and people with risk factors have been vaccinated against the flu this season, a figure practically identical to last year, according to SIVIC data. In the 2021 season, coverage was 45% and in 2022, it was 43%.

Among those over the age of 60, the figure is slightly higher (46%) for this year, but the majority of this segment of the population has not been vaccinated.

Those in their 70s (53%) have higher rates of coverage, while those aged over 80 have even greater vaccination rates (66%).

One in three children have been vaccinated for flu. Currently, the vaccine is indicated for children from 6 months to 5 years old.