Respiratory infections rise; influenza climbs toward epidemic threshold

The impact of respiratory viruses, and particularly influenza, is rising. Between 17 and 23 November, acute respiratory infections reached an incidence of 189.19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 109.28 the previous week, a jump the health department describes as a recent change in trend.

Influenza cases have doubled in one week, from 8.03 to 16.07 cases per 100,000, bringing them close to the epidemic threshold of 20.47 per 100,000. Authorities note that the arrival of colder weather is coinciding with an increase in infections and could signal the start of the peak season.

The youngest children remain the most affected. For acute respiratory infections, infants up to one year old show the highest rates, while influenza is hitting children aged one to four most strongly.

Among tested samples, 12.5% were positive. Of those positives, 38.46% were rhinovirus or enterovirus and 30.77% were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Influenza A and adenovirus together accounted for 15.58% of positive detections.

Health authorities are monitoring the upward trend but say current figures do not yet warrant alarm. They describe the modest rise in reported cases as a possible indicator that the high season for respiratory viruses is beginning.