Catalonia officially entered the peak period of flu infections on December 2nd, approximately four weeks earlier than usual, and it appears that now, after Christmas, the epidemiological curve is beginning to decline. This is indicated by the latest data from the Catalan Infection Surveillance Information System (SIVIC), corresponding to the week of December 22nd to 28th. The estimated incidence is 236 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, half that of the previous week (546), but it should be noted that fewer diagnoses are made during holiday periods. For this reason, although the flu seems to be subsiding, the fact is that the epidemic is not completely over and new outbreaks cannot be ruled out. Based on the available information, the peak of infections occurred two weeks ago, just before the Christmas holidays. Then, the incidence rate skyrocketed to 750 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and this year's epidemic was confirmed as the worst in the last fifteen years. The WHO actively recommended vaccination and the use of masks, given that A new variant has emerged, the Kwhich has been imposed on half of European countries.

After arriving to its all-time highThe flu is beginning to lose momentum, and in the last week the incidence of the disease has decreased slightly, according to the latest data from the Infection Surveillance Information System in Catalonia (SIVIC). Even so, the flu epidemic continues. at very high transmission levels And the Secretary of Public Health, Esteve Fernández, has called for caution, especially as Christmas approaches, when social gatherings are expected to increase. "We cannot rule out a resurgence in the coming days," he warned on Tuesday. To try to contain infections, especially among the most vulnerable population, the Catalan Health Department will extend the mandatory use of masks in healthcare and social care centers for another two weeks. "We must be extremely careful, especially when interacting with vulnerable people," insisted the Deputy Director of CatSalut, Pilar Otermin, in anticipation of Christmas family gatherings, where people of all ages will be present.

During the autumn and winter months, we tend to spend less time outdoors than at other times of the year. The colder weather and fewer hours of sunlight mean that families often spend more time at each other's homes, places where children can enjoy the company of elderly relatives, aunts, uncles, and cousins, but also where viruses that cause colds and flu circulate more freely, often increasing the risk of infection. It is no coincidence, therefore, that year after year around this time there is a peak in viral infections such as the common cold, the flu, COVID-19, and bronchiolitis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that more than half of European countries are already experiencing a severe flu epidemic, which has started earlier than in previous years due to a new strain of the virus, placing significant pressure on healthcare systems. For this reason, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Henri P. Kluge, has stressed that the public is advised to take simple protective measures to keep themselves and others safe this winter. The flu season has begun approximately four weeks earlier than in previous years, and at least 27 of the 38 countries in the WHO European Region are experiencing high or very high flu activity. In this regard, Kluge reiterated the need to get vaccinated and to wear masks when experiencing symptoms and when near at-risk groups or in crowded places. He also stressed the importance of staying home—whenever possible—when experiencing symptoms and washing hands regularly. In enclosed spaces, he advised opening windows and doors frequently to improve airflow. "It is also vital, in the current climate of misinformation, to seek credible information from reliable sources, such as national health agencies and the WHO," he asserted, adding that evidence can save lives. "The flu arrives every winter, but this year is somewhat different," Kluge warned, pointing to the K variant, which is causing 90% of infections, although there is no evidence that it causes more severe illness. "This demonstrates that just a small genetic variation of the flu virus can put enormous pressure on our healthcare systems because people lack developed immunity against the virus," the director emphasized. In fact, Kluge stressed that this year's epidemic is serious but does not represent the level of global emergency that the pandemic posed. "Our healthcare systems have decades of experience managing the flu, we have safe vaccines that are updated annually, and we have a clear manual of protective measures that work. If we use the proven tools we have, we can overcome this predictable seasonal storm," he said.

He Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia (DOGC) published this Wednesday the resolution that makes the use of face masks mandatory Masks have been mandated in healthcare and residential facilities to combat the worst flu epidemic in 15 years. The document states that everyone aged six and over must wear a mask whenever they are in healthcare facilities—including mental health facilities—or in residential centers for the elderly or people with disabilities. The resolution is valid for 15 calendar days, starting this Wednesday. The resolution affects workers, patients, and visitors of the affected centers, but establishes a series of exceptions. Specifically, patients are exempt from wearing masks when they remain in their rooms. This also applies to people with any type of illness or respiratory difficulty that could be aggravated by wearing a mask, or who, due to their disability or dependency, are unable to remove the mask independently, or who exhibit behavioral issues that make wearing one unfeasible. The Catalan government reminds the public that the mask must fit snugly against the face and mouth, covering from the bridge of the nose to the chin. Among the cases exempt from the new requirement are those in which its use is incompatible due to the nature of the activities and "in accordance with the indications of the health authorities," it was resolved.

It is the underestimated epidemic, the one that is described as severe coldBut the behavior of the flu is unpredictable. Every year, this virus causes hundreds of hospitalizations and deaths among the elderly and vulnerable. Many end up suffering from illnesses stemming from pneumonia, respiratory failure, or exacerbations of chronic conditions such as diabetes. These are pathologies that could have been avoided or minimized by following preventive measures. This Tuesday, Catalonia officially entered the period of accelerated flu transmission: the number of cases has doubled, there are 35 hospitalized patients, and five of them are in serious condition. What to do now?

After health authorities warned that had arrived two weeks earlier than expected And with a more contagious variant, the flu is now expected to gain momentum in the coming weeks and become an epidemic again. To minimize risks, the Catalan Health Department will open vaccinations against the virus to the entire population starting Monday. The reason: the country is expected to reach a moderate level of transmission in about two weeks. This Friday, the autonomous communities and the Ministry of Health also assessed the threat of the flu in the Interterritorial Council led by the Minister, Mónica García, and agreed to reinstate the use of masks in healthcare centers when the peak of infections and hospitalizations is reached. Currently, flu transmission in Catalonia is at a low level, but the incidence has begun to rise earlier than usual, in line with the forecasts of health authorities. In fact, the upward trend of this virus is more pronounced than in previous seasons, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. For all these reasons, the department is urging people to get vaccinated, since immunization is the best tool to prevent serious complications and avoid hospitalizations, especially among the most vulnerable. Data collected by the Infection Surveillance Information System in Catalonia (Sivic) confirms the rise in flu cases, with 81 infections per 100,000 inhabitants. Currently, it is the second most frequent respiratory pathogen (13% of cases), behind rhinovirus—which causes the common cold and 42% of current infections—but ahead of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which traditionally preceded the flu epidemic in children and now causes the flu itself. According to Sivic, 5,988 flu infections have already been diagnosed, half of which correspond to the predominant flu variant (A H1N1pdm09), while the other half are caused by the K variant (A H3N2). This variant is largely responsible for the increase in infections in Europe, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has reiterated the need to vaccinate vulnerable groups "without delay" due to an "unusual early transmission" of the flu compared to previous years. The Catalan Health Department echoes this sentiment, urging people aged 60 and over, children between 6 and 59 months, pregnant women, healthcare professionals and essential workers, and people with risk factors to get vaccinated. In fact, vaccinations have been administered for weeks, and the vaccination campaign figures are better than in previous years. To schedule an appointment for vaccinations, it is best to do so through the "My Health" app. Appointments can also be made online at citasalut.gencat.cat or in person at your local primary care center (CAP). However, until December 5th, primary care centers (CAPs) are also offering walk-in vaccinations Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. According to the government, this is thanks to the walk-in vaccination strategy. The vaccination campaign figures are improving compared to previous years.Since people who want to be vaccinated will get vaccinated when it suits them, regardless of whether appointments are available or not, nurses have strongly criticized the plan, as it represents a heavy workload in a context of already high workload and few available staff, they say.

The flu is here. Two weeks earlier than expected, and in line with the predictions of health authorities, it includes a new variant that is expected to be more contagious. The Catalan Infection Surveillance Information System (SIVIC) confirms its rise: with 81 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, flu cases are on the rise, although transmission remains low. Currently, it is the second most common respiratory pathogen (13% of cases), behind rhinovirus—which causes the common cold and accounts for 42% of current infections—but ahead of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which traditionally preceded the flu epidemic in children and now causes 3% of cases per 100,000 inhabitants. According to Sivic, during the week of November 17-23, the incidence of all acute respiratory infections (ARIs) was 609 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, equivalent to 49,424 infections. Of these, 5,988 cases were diagnosed as influenza, which typically places greater strain on the healthcare system than rhinovirus. Currently, half of these cases are due to the predominant influenza variant (A H1N1pdm09), while the other half are caused by the K variant (A H3N2). This variant is largely responsible for the increase in infections in Europe, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has reiterated the need to vaccinate vulnerable groups (those over 65, pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and those with chronic illnesses), without the need for a flu vaccination program compared to previous years.

Every day, an additional 7,000 people are choosing to get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19 compared to last year, since the vaccination campaign began. This was explained on Thursday by the Secretary of Public Health, Esteve Fernández, who believes this will have "a very significant impact" on preventing severe illness and its complications. This, in theory, suggests a calmer winter in healthcare facilities, since higher vaccination rates mean fewer severe cases will require hospitalization, thus reducing the strain on the healthcare system. Immunization is especially important for vulnerable individuals, the elderly, and those living in care homes, as they account for the highest rates of hospitalizations and deaths each year when the cold weather arrives due to respiratory viruses.

The circulation of respiratory viruses such as influenza and COVID-19 increases during the fall and winter, and the Department of Health has launched its annual vaccination campaign to protect people at risk of complications if infected. Given that the forecast for the coming months is that the flu season could be two to four weeks earlier—as reported this Wednesday by the Deputy Director General of Surveillance and Response to Public Health Emergencies of the Generalitat (Catalan Government), Jacobo Mendioroz—the vaccination campaign will also begin earlier than usual, in mid-September.

Coronavirus is now part of the portfolio of respiratory viruses closely monitored by the Department of Health. It will no longer attempt to find all cases, as it does with other pathogens with a practically stable or seasonal appearance, such as influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis in children-. The Health Dpt has presented a new system this Friday to check for the main respiratory pathogens affecting the health of the Catalan population. It is a step further towards the normalisation of covid, after two years with epidemiological network focused exclusively on it. "This system is nourished by the lessons of the last two years," summarised the secretary of Public Health, Carmen Cabezas.

The Public Health Commission, a body under the Ministry of Health, has approved this Tuesday the new strategy for surveillance and control of covid-19 that eliminates quarantines for people infected by the virus who are asymptomatic. The measure will come into effect on Monday, March 28, and is a further step in treating coronavirus like influenza.