In the European region, an increase in the number of hospitalizations due to the incidence of influenza may be observed in the coming weeks. This prediction was made by the World Health Organization (WHO), which called for greater attention to the protection of vulnerable groups of the population, including the elderly and pregnant women. TASS agency informs about it.
Influenza virus activity is usually assessed based on tests, 50-60% of which confirm the presence of the disease in late January or February. However, 36% of the tests showed positive flu results.
"This indicates that the season has not yet reached its peak, and the number of hospitalizations will probably continue to increase in the coming weeks," the WHO said.
Since the official start of the seasonal flu epidemic at the end of November 2024, "respiratory infection rates have continued to increase throughout the WHO European region," the world organization recalled. The WHO emphasized that "although the scale of the flu season is within the expected range, it is important that health authorities and individuals continue to work actively to limit the spread of infection and target the most vulnerable population groups, including the elderly, pregnant women, the immunocompromised and those with chronic for the protection of people with diseases".
The WHO also highlighted the threat to health that COVID-19 still poses, although the number of sick people is not as high now as during the most active period of the pandemic.
According to the organization, "it is important to be vigilant and apply protective measures", taking into account that the situation can change for the worse at any time, "for example, with the emergence of variants of the coronavirus with high infectivity". The WHO is confident that "vaccinations remain a vital means of saving the lives of the most vulnerable sections of the population."
