Announces the end of a three-month flu epidemic

In the past two weeks, the intensity of influenza in surveillance cities has not exceeded the epidemic threshold of 100 cases per 100,000 population; the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CCPC) has announced the end of the flu epidemic.

The flu epidemic in Latvia was announced on January 15th. The CCPC set the last day of the flu epidemic on April 9th.

Surveillance data show that the intensity of the flu last week decreased by 37% compared to the previous week. However, the circulation of influenza viruses is still ongoing and during the past week epidemics in outpatient epidemiology have been recorded in four of the ten sites included in the surveillance.

On average, the number of patients in family practice was slightly above 14 per 100,000 population. The number of patients hospitalized for influenza and influenza-induced pneumonia also decreased by 20.5% – hospitals in Daugavpils, Gulbene, Jelgava, Jekabpils, Riga and Valmiera were reported in hospitalized patients.

Since the beginning of the season, it is mainly the influenza A viruses that circulate.

Overall, it is estimated that the intensity of the flu outbreak will be moderate this season, according to SPCC experts. The highest incidence of influenza was observed in the first weeks of February. During this season, significantly more cases of influenza have been reported in children, particularly children under four, including during hospitalization due to induced pneumonia. by the flu.

Although the flu epidemic has ended and the spread of influenza viruses is decreasing, the CCPC reiterates that influenza and other respiratory viruses continue to circulate.

Epidemiologists at CCPC continue to advocate for the prevention of respiratory infections – frequent hand washing, regular ventilation of premises and wet cleaning of the premises, as well as prolonging the stay in the fresh air.

The National Health Service, for its part, recalls that with the end of the flu epidemic, state visits to family doctors paid to patients with influenza no longer take place. application. This condition does not apply to patients receiving paid visits by the state through their family physician for children, first-clbad disabled and other patient groups.