As the spread of flu in Latvia continues, patients in risk groups are invited to vaccinate, as reported by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC).
Last week, between the 5th and 11th of February, Covid-19 and other acute upper respiratory infection monitoring data showed a decrease in the number of Covid-19 patients. There was still an increase in the number of flu infections.
In October last year there was information about 15 deaths with laboratory tests confirming those people had flu. Aside from flu, all those 15 people also suffered from other diseases. None of them were vaccinated for flu.
Last week general practitioners received 1 019 patients suffering from symptoms of acute upper respiratory infection. 375 were diagnosed with flu. A week prior there were 356 patients like that. Two weeks prior there were 319 patients, SPKC reports.
The majority of infection cases were found in Ventspils (961 per 100 000 residents), followed by Liepaja (652), Riga (617.2), Jekabpils (605.6), Jelgava (558.5), Daugavpils (390.8), Rezekne (288.1), Valmiera (212.9) and Jurmala (149.1).
Flu infection cases were found in all age groups. Intensity is the highest, however, in under four years age group.
In many European Union and European Economic Zone (EU/EEZ) member states there is a sharp surge of acute upper respiratory infections in primary healthcare. Most EU/EEZ member states report flu activity above the base level. The average flu positive test proportion was the highest in EU/EEZ – 34% (39% the week prior). SPKC notes that infections have a tendency to rise. All countries report flu activity that exceeds 10% positive sample proportion in primary healthcare. This is a threshold for an epidemic.
The number of Covid-19 cases in Latvia is going down, according to the latest data – the number of confirmed cases is on the similar level to a week prior – 51 Covid-19 cases. A total of 650 (743 a week prior) laboratory tests were performed for SARS-CoV-2 virus. The number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients was up to 75 (79 a week prior and 97 two weeks prior).
A week prior there was a single patient undergoing treatment for severe infection. There were also 11 deaths of Covid-19 patients (three a week prior) in the 60 years and older age group. SPKC notes that in at least one case Covid-19 was the main diagnosis.
SPKC reminds the most effective way to stay safe from flu and Covid-19 is vaccination. Specialist urge residents in risk groups to actively use state-provided vaccination opportunities. People scheduled to undergo planned surgery or other medical manipulations are especially encouraged to vaccinate.
Despite the flu epidemic, vaccination is still recommended because if flu epidemic usually lasts ten weeks, immunity provided by vaccination is formed within 10-14 days. This is why a person can still benefit from vaccination even during flu epidemic.
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