Last week’s flu and other upper respiratory infections monitoring results show that the number of Covid-19 patients is on a rise. There is also growth observed in the number of infections involving respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as reported by Disease Prevention and Control Centre (SPKC).
Experts stress that flu infection rates remain on a low level. This means now is the time for vaccination.
“The number of Covid-19 infections continues going up in Latvia. There are 270 confirmed Covid-19 infection cases (241 confirmed last week, 209 the two weeks before). There are an average of 30 cases every week. Compared to the data from two weeks ago, last week 182 more patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 virus. Of 823 patients (641 the week prior), Covid-19 was confirmed for 141 (111 the week prior),” SPKC representatives comment.
The percentage of positive tests remains on a moderately high level for the third consecutive week, exceeding 30%.
This indicates that SARS-CoV-2 virus remains the dominant cause of respiratory infections in Latvia.
Sewer water monitoring data shows that the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA is on a rise. In most Latvian municipalities and Latvia in general RNA concentration is already higher than the maximum observed across last year’s season.
SPKC notes that in most EU/EEZ member states the spread of flu is on a level similar to what was observed in the same period of last year. In EU/EEZ member states the percentage of positive Covid-19 tests is 21% (14% a week prior). The percentage of positive flu tests remains below 3%.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
For the second consecutive week there has been a rise in the number of positive RSV test results. While on the 45th week it was 2.1%, two weeks ago it was 9.8% and last week it was 25.8%. It is likely these monitoring results indicate the start of a new seasonal RSV epidemic.
SPKC notes that last week there was continued growth of the number of patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infections. In two weeks their numbers went up from 18% to 25%. Basically every fourth hospitalised patient requested medical assistance because of acute respiratory infection.
Monitoring data also indicates that pre-school institution attendance is down by 5.2% and was 66.4% (71.6% a week prior). The rise of acute upper respiratory infections is mainly due to the continued spread of Covid-19 and the start of the spread of RSV. Flu has yet to have a significant effect on the total infection rate.
Vaccination
“To reduce the risk of lethal outcome and severe infection, vaccination for seasonal flu and Covid-19 is recommended to everyone, especially people who suffer from severe infection symptoms and who are at high risk of post-infection complications. Nearly 89 000 people in Latvia have vaccinated for flu so far and nearly 21 000 residents have vaccinated for Covid-19,” SPKC representatives stress.
Vaccination for Covid-19 uses an adapted Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5, which is effective against the existing SARS-CoV-2 virus Omicron variants. SPKC stresses that the vaccine is also effective against the new BA.2.86 or Pirola variant.
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Acute respiratory infections on a rise in Latvia: Covid-19 and RSV
