Cases of influenza in Portugal are increasing across the country, but the infection rate has decreased, according to the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA). The latest Influenza Watch Bulletin, corresponding to the week ending Sunday, reports that the incidence of acute respiratory infection has also fallen to 25.5 per 100,000 residents. To date, according to INSA, 81 cases of co-infection with influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 have been detected.
According to the bulletin, the 13 intensive care units that sent the information reported two cases of influenza, both infected with influenza A virus, patients’ ages ranged between 35-44 years and 55-64 years and only one was chronically ill and had a chronic illness. to feed. A case of influenza was also reported by the three wards that sent the information.
Despite the lower values in the incidence of influenza syndrome and acute respiratory infection, the INSA stresses that these values must be interpreted “taking into account the reorganization of care for the respiratory patient and the smaller population monitored than those observed in a similar period to previous years”.
The document also indicates that the Portuguese Network of Influenza Diagnostic Laboratories (Hospitals) observed an increase in the number of influenza cases since week 8/2022 (February 21 to 27) and that in week 13 (February 28, March to April 3), 1055 cases were identified Positive for influenza virus, of which 1,045 were type A and 10 were type B. In 164 cases the A (H3) subtype was identified and in 13 cases the A (H1) subtype.).
In the 2021/22 season, the laboratories of the Portuguese Network of Laboratories for Influenza Diagnostics (hospitals) reported 87,910 cases of respiratory infections and 3,725 cases of influenza were identified.
The INSA reports that as of the week ending Sunday, 112 influenza viruses had antigenic properties different from the virus included in the 2021/2022 influenza vaccine.
Influenza vaccination began in Portugal at the end of September, earlier than usual due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and more than 2.5 million people have already been vaccinated.
The INSA bulletin also states that deaths from all causes are “within expectations for this time of year.”
Regarding the European situation, it indicates that there is an increasing trend in influenza activity and that in week 12 (21-27 March) several countries in the European region had a laboratory detection rate of influenza virus above 50% – Serbia (69%) and the Netherlands ( 67%), Denmark (63%), Slovenia (62%), France (58%), Belgium (57%), Hungary (57%) and Luxembourg (54%).
