Last week the intensity of flu had more than doubled in Latvia, according to information from the State Disease Control and Prevention Centre (SPKC).
A total of 138 patients turned to their general practitioners last week. This includes 82 in Riga, 31 in Jelgava, 13 in Jurmala, six in Liepaja, five in Daugavpils and one in Ventspils.
A total of 225.2 flu infection cases per 100 000 residents were uncovered in Latvia last week. A week prior it was 99.6 cases per 100 000 residents.
The level of flu intensity in Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja and Riga was above 100 cases per 100 000 residents.
Last week 907 people went to their general practitioners with complaints about acute upper respiratory tract infections or an average of 1 480.2 case per 100 000 residents. The week prior this number was 1 762.4 per 100 000 residents.
21 patients or 34.3 per 100 000 residents reported cases of pneumonia (34.2 per 100 000 residents a week prior).
Inpatient treatment facilities reported 43 hospitalisations of patients with flu. Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS) hospitalied 13 patients, Vidzeme Hospital hospitalised ten, Children’s Clinical University Hospital (BKUS) – ten, Daugavpils Regional Hospital – four, Jekabpils Regional Hospital – three, and Liepaja and North Kurzeme Regional Hospital received one patient each.
BKUS reported one case of flu-induced pneumonia.
LLC Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital’s laboratory examined 35 clinical samples last week. Ten samples were tested positive for A-type influenza virus. Six of them were tested positive for A/H3. 17 more samples received from BKUS were tested positive for A/H3 type viruses.
Other upper respiratory viruses were found as well, including three cases of adenovirus and two cases of rhinovirus infection.
In the tenth week of the year flu intensity increased considerably and exceeded the base level. On 17 March Latvian authorities announced the start of flu epidemic in the country.