A severe flu outbreak is affecting Europe: "This year is somewhat different"

BarcelonaThe 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.

Pressure on Catalan emergency rooms

In Catalonia, the worst flu epidemic in the last 15 years continues to grow: in the last week, its incidence has doubled, reaching a very high level of transmission. The high circulation of the virus, especially among children, is putting pressure on the healthcare system's emergency departments, particularly primary care centers (CAPs), which have diagnosed 32,920 new cases in the last seven days, according to the latest data from the Catalan Infection Surveillance Information System (SIVIC). Hospitals have admitted 530 people in the last week with some type of acute respiratory infection. All of this is happening just a week before family gatherings for the Christmas holidays.

"Emergency room visits have increased throughout Catalonia. The more flu there is, the greater the pressure on healthcare services. Right now, it's very high," explains Mireia Puig, president of the Catalan Society of Emergency Medicine and director of the Emergency Department at Sant Pau Hospital. The expert clarified that the hospitalization rate is similar to last year's, since the current variant is more contagious, but not more aggressive. However, she warned that the more people who become infected, the greater the risk that someone will require hospitalization and the higher the number of people in hospitals due to the flu. The estimated incidence is 766 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, while the previous week it was 421, representing a 2.5-fold increase compared to the previous week's data. which is demonstrated by the upward curveRegarding the incidence of all acute respiratory infections, which includes influenza, rhinovirus, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), it is 1,152 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, equivalent to 93,519 cases. The distribution of viruses shows influenza as the most prevalent (two out of every three virus samples analyzed correspond to influenza), followed by rhinovirus (10.8%), human coronavirus, and RSV (4.7% each). All those hospitalized with COVID-19 and 76% of those hospitalized with influenza are over 60 years old, while 67% of those hospitalized with RSV are under 4 years old. Christmas Meal Protection

For the past week, Salut has been requiring wear a mask in health centersIn nursing homes and long-term care facilities, both for patients and staff, masks are recommended, as well as their use on public transport, especially if the person has symptoms. Puig maintains that the best protection against the flu is vaccination, but also recommends good ventilation and thorough handwashing when meeting with vulnerable individuals during the Christmas holidays, as well as wearing a mask if someone has symptoms.

Flu vaccination coverage is 66% for people over 80 and 53% for those between 70 and 79. For COVID-19, coverage is 55% among those over 80, and 39% of those between 70 and 79 have been vaccinated. In children between 6 months and five years old, flu protection is at 40%. Regarding RSV, cumulative coverage is 94% in those born between April and September; and 69.6% for those born between October and May, representing a total coverage of 88.3%.