Influenza, ISS: 773,000 cases in the last week, cautious about peak

Rome, 16 January (LaPresse) – The acute phase of the flu ‘is probably behind us, but there is the unknown factor of schools reopening. So we will presumably see a slow decline in infections, with a significant number of cases’. This was stated to LaSalute di LaPresse by Fabrizio Pregliasco, director of the School of Specialisation in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine at the University of Milan, commenting on the latest data from the Higher Institute of Health. From 5 January to 11 January, there were 773,000 cases of respiratory viruses, a decrease compared to the previous week. The incidence was 13.3 cases per 1,000 patients, compared to 14.1 seven days earlier. According to the RespiVirNet report, we are at 8.4 million cases. “Influenza and respiratory viruses will be with us until the end of February,” predicts the virologist. In fact, infectious disease specialists at the Viale Regina Elena Institute are urging caution. “Although the incidence is still decreasing compared to the previous two weeks, in order to verify that the peak has passed,” they warn, “we must wait for the coming weeks, in light of the possible impact of the reopening of schools and other activities after the Christmas holidays on the circulation of various respiratory viruses”. It is no coincidence that the highest incidence is observed, as usual, in young children: in the 0-4 age group, there are approximately 28 cases per 1,000 patients.