Although it has not yet officially arrived, winter has already begun to unfold its cold breath, but it is not the frost that worries the specialists, but the danger that advances between the hands, doorknobs and hospital corridors: the respiratory viruses … which have come ahead of Christmas.
The rate of respiratory infections (ARI) in Spain it already reaches 519.3 cases per 100,00 inhabitantsan increase compared to the previous week (482.2) that confirms the upward trend. The gripefor its part, records 40.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitantsan increase of 13.9% and, for the first time this season, above the endemic threshold.
The December long weekend can be critical
Many experts fear that these numbers will translate into high hospitalization ratesespecially among the most vulnerable population, such as the elderly, immunosuppressed or pregnant.
“No one can flatten this flu curve anymore,” the emergency pediatrician predicts in his X account. David Andinawho warns that “the December long weekend it’s going to be wild in the Emergency Services and there will be no respite until after Christmas». «It adds the epidemic curve of respiratory syncytial virus. “It’s the perfect storm,” he concludes.
‼️ There is no one to flatten this flu curve anymore.
The December long weekend is going to be wild in the Emergency Services and there will be no respite until after Christmas.
The epidemic curve of the respiratory syncytial virus is added.
It’s the perfect storm. pic.twitter.com/kb1ERKxlVy
— david andina (@daandina) December 3, 2025
The warning is not isolated. The emergency doctor In the Amara Areas has also issued a serious warning about the rapid and silent transmission of the flu: “You don’t see it, but You probably have the flu virus on your hands now.. Yes, even if you haven’t touched anyone.”
Therefore, it is recommended to carry out this simple action to prevent infections as much as possible: wash your hands properlywhich can reduce the risk of suffering from respiratory or digestive infections by up to 50%.
However, he regrets that most of us do it wrong: “We put water on ourselves, a little soap, we stay there for two seconds and we leave. “Viruses don’t go away that easily.” Instead, the expert suggests doing it this way: «Wet them, use enough soap, rub the palms, back, between the fingers, thumbs and nails for 20 seconds. Rinse well and dry with a clean paper or towel..
A common protocol in the face of a complicated winter
Many autonomous communities feared that this could happen and had already deployed their winter plans before the meeting with the Ministry of Health, including the use of masks in health centers. But the Public Health Commission took a further step on Wednesday with the approval of a common protocol to act against the flu, Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses throughout the country.
The document establishes four action scenarios, from least to most serious. All of them share measures such as vaccinationhe reinforcement of surveillancethe staff trainingthe review of contingency plansthe use of face mask and the contact limitation with people who present symptoms. Afterwards, there are other specific actions depending on the phase:
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Interepidemic or baseline scenario. It is the least serious and includes the general measures mentioned: the promotion of vaccination, epidemiological surveillance and staff training. It is also recommended that workers in health care centers with symptoms should wear a mask continuously.
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Low or medium level epidemic scenario. It includes all of the above and adds the recommendation of surgical masks in sensitive areas of hospitals (oncology, transplants…) for professionals, patients and companions. It is also suggested to facilitate teleworking. In residences, the use of masks is maintained for symptomatic workers and measures may be added if there is transmission.
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High-level epidemic scenario. Self-isolation is reinforced in the event of symptoms, care continuity plans are activated and masks are recommended in common areas of health centers, such as waiting rooms or emergencies. In residences, the visiting policy is reviewed and masks are recommended for vulnerable people in closed spaces.
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Very high epidemic scenario. Extraordinary meetings of the Interterritorial Council are held and there is the possibility of adopting additional exceptional measures.
The Minister of Health, Monica Garciacelebrated having “managed” to reach this agreement, but Andina criticizes its tardanza: «A protocol that arrives four weeks late and that at this point in the flu epidemic (and respiratory syncytial virus) it won’t be of any use». “You just have to stop stepping on the carpet for a few hours and stop by any Emergency Department these days to realize it,” he says.
Alert to the advance of a more contagious variant: vaccination remains the key
The alarm increases with the arrival of the K subclade of the A (H3N2) virus, a more contagious variant. The virologist Estanislao Nistal explains that it accumulates seven mutations that reduce the effectiveness of antibodies generated by previous vaccines or previous infections: the virus “looks less similar” to the strains included this yearwinning immune escape capacity and favoring his expansion. Japan, the United Kingdom and North America had already observed this behavior.
The symptoms, remembers Nistal, are the usual ones: sudden high fever, muscle pain, headache, dry cough and great tiredness. The treatment is also the same as always: rrest, hydration, and drugs to relieve symptoms. There is no medication that cures the flu, but acting early minimizes complications.
Although the vaccine of this season may be less effective against the K subclade, experts agree that it is still fundamental. It protects against other variants in circulation and reduces the risk of severe disease. The authorities recommend vaccinating the most vulnerable groups as soon as possible.
