Flu activity rising in Latvia as first death of the season is recorded

Flu activity in Latvia is gradually increasing, according to week 44 monitoring data from the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC), the national public health agency. Activity remained below the epidemic threshold, but the first death of a patient with confirmed influenza in this monitoring season was registered last week.

Infection rates

In week 44, influenza was clinically diagnosed at an average of 15.0 cases per 100,000 residents, up from 9.2 a week earlier. The rise was mainly among children aged 5 to 14, where the rate reached 57.7 per 100,000. Since the season began, flu cases have been recorded in five of the ten monitored areas: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Riga and Ventspils.

Other acute respiratory infections held steady at 992.3 cases per 100,000, with children, especially those under four, most affected. Pneumonia cases edged up from 8.0 to 11.0 per 100,000. Outpatient figures do not exceed the average of the previous five seasons.

Laboratory data

The share of flu-positive samples rose from 2.5% to 4.6%. Only type A viruses have been confirmed, and all subtyped samples were A(H1)pdm. The share of SARS-CoV-2-positive samples increased from 0.5% to 3.4%, while respiratory syncytial virus was not detected. The number of severe acute respiratory infection patients in monitoring hospitals fell from 165 to 110. Six patients were hospitalised with Covid-19, compared with one the week before; two Covid-19 deaths have been recorded this season.

Vaccination

By 3 November, 39,122 people had received state-funded flu vaccines (18,779 a week earlier) and 2,700 had been vaccinated against Covid-19 (previously 1,764). SPKC explains that flu vaccine production in Europe was delayed, so deliveries to Latvia are arriving later than usual. The Vaxigrip vaccine is expected by 6 November. Covid-19 vaccination is free, and both vaccines can be given during one doctor's visit.