The flu is, for obvious reasons, the classic disease of this time of year, but the speed with which 2025 has begun to make its usual havoc and the large number of infections it is causing have generated many questions among the population. Why the virus has arrived earlier or why it is circulating with such intensity there are only two of them.
“Today, there is no evidence that the K variant is more virulent than the flu that has circulated in Euskadi in previous years, although being a new variant it spreads more easily”
The answer to both questions is that the current epidemic has been caused by variant k of the influenza A virus (H3N2), that presents several mutations in the hemagglutinin protein that make the immune system “recognize worse” to the pathogen, as explained Marta Logroño, deputy director for the coordination of hospital care at Osakidetza.
“Today, there is no evidence that the K variant is more virulent than the flu that has circulated in Euskadi in previous years, although it is true that since it is a new variant it spreads more easily,” explains the professional.
Logroño remembers at this point that The available vaccine is “effective” and, furthermore, “the only preventive measure “which has been shown to offer protection against the flu.”
the entire population
The Basque Department of Health and Osakidetza continue to recommend getting vaccinated “to the entire general population” and, especially, to risk groups.
The use of a mask in case of symptoms, the ventilation of closed spaces and hand hygiene are three simple measures that also help reduce the spread del virus.
Osakidetza has managed 557,546 vaccines against the flu until last Monday the 1st, which represents an increase of 12% compared to the same period of the previous year. Of them, 78,978 in Álava.
Furthermore, the professionals of the Basque public entity have to date put 292,160 more doses against covid-19 within its joint immunization strategy against respiratory infections.
High numbers
Vaccination has reached very high numbers in nursing homes: 84% against the flu and 72% against covid, with 17,244 and 14,794 doses administered respectively.
Furthermore, coverage among pregnant women is 52.3%, which It has already meant surpassing the total figures for 2024.
On the other hand, the Basque Health Service has administered 25,527 doses among the child population from six to 59 months, which represents 38.9% coverage. Osakidetza vaccination data indicate that in these first days of December the vaccine coverage reached has already been achieved throughout 2024.
Among health professionals, another of the main target groups, Osakidetza has already administered a total of 13,743 doses of flu vaccine, which is 20% more than last year.
