Influenza cases to peak this week in Catalonia

The latest data from the Catalan Health Ministry show that the flu epidemic is reaching its peak, with 14,647 registered cases in the second week of 2024, compared to 15.256 last year. 

 Currently, there are 363 flu cases per 100,000 inhabitants, which is a higher number than last year but similar to the years before the pandemic, when cases reached 350-400 flu cases, according to the latest data from Catalonia's Infection Surveillance Information System (SiViC). 

During the last week, the number of diagnosed flu cases in primary health facilities (CAP) has decreased in all age groups except children. 

The health ministry warns that transmission levels remain high and stresses that last year a second peak in infections came a few weeks after the first peak. 

As for Covid-19, estimated transmission numbers are also declining, with 4,202 new diagnoses last week, compared to 4,797 in the first week of 2024. Hospitalizations due to Covid-19 are moving in the same direction. 

The bronchiolitis incidence rate in children is also continuing to decline and is much lower than last year's rate, which is attributed to this year's vaccination campaign, in which infants under the age of 6 months have been vaccinated against the virus that causes bronchiolitis. 

Vaccines help bring infection numbers down 

More than 60% of people over the age of 80 have received the Covid vaccine, while 46% of people between the ages of 70 and 79 have received the vaccine.  

The numbers are lower for people who have received the flu shot, 67% and 54% in the respective age groups. 

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned about the “pressure” seen in some European hospitals, even though virus circulation is normal at this time of the year.  

With a new Covid variant spreading and some health centers under pressure, the WHO is recommending that people at high risk get vaccinated, as a new study by the organization shows that the Covid vaccines have saved the lives of at least 1.4 million people in Europe.