Flu and Pneumonia Surge in Latvia, with Kids and Elderly Hit Hardest
February has brought a surge in flu and pneumonia cases across Latvia, particularly affecting children under 14 years of age. According to epidemiologist Karīna Venediktova, 20 deaths have occurred since the flu season began, primarily among older adults with underlying health conditions.
Flu Spread Continues Across Latvia
Influenza has now been detected in all 10 monitoring cities, contrasting with the beginning of the flu season when it was more concentrated in Rīga. Liepāja reported the highest influenza incidence last week with 26 cases.
High Case Counts and Lab Results Show Influenza Prevalence
Primary care doctors have registered over 1,000 influenza cases, while about 20% of laboratory tests have returned positive, indicating a significant influenza outbreak in the country.
Pneumonia Cases Reach Alarming Levels
The pneumonia situation is particularly worrying, with higher-than-usual case counts this year. Various viral pathogens can lead to pneumonia, especially in younger children. This increase poses challenges for healthcare providers.
Covid-19 Cases Decrease
Compared to flu and pneumonia, the number of Covid-19 cases has consistently decreased, with only 3.4% of tests coming back positive. This statistic aligns with broader European trends.
High Risk Groups Identified
Despite children accounting for the majority of flu and pneumonia cases, people over 65 years old remain the most vulnerable group, with a higher risk of severe infections and hospitalization due to pre-existing conditions.
Venediktova confirmed that all 20 flu-related deaths have been among individuals over 50 who had multiple comorbidities and risk factors like alcohol and smoking. Among the deceased, 19 were unvaccinated, though even the vaccinated patient had severe chronic illnesses.
Monitoring Schools for Better Insights
The Latvian government has approved changes to the anti-epidemic measures, reintroducing upper respiratory tract monitoring in certain educational institutions in major cities. This move follows the lifting of remote learning restrictions, as schools are crucial for gathering accurate data on infectious disease spread.
The Ministry of Health expects 63 schools across 10 municipalities to report weekly data on student attendance. This initiative aims to help officials implement appropriate interventions more promptly.
Decreasing School Attendance Due to Respiratory Illnesses
SPKC data reveal ongoing declines in school and kindergarten attendance due to acute respiratory illnesses. Upon resuming in-person classes after the winter break, average attendance stood at 90.6%. Since then, it has dropped by an average of 5.2 percentage points.
Monitoring Will Resume in Schools
The government has supported amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers’ regulations on influenza anti-epidemic measures, restoring upper respiratory tract monitoring in certain educational institutions in the largest cities of Latvia. Until now, monitoring was carried out by family doctor practices and hospitals, because during the Covid pandemic, educational institutions were excluded from influenza monitoring – lessons were held remotely and data were not needed. However, now that lessons are taking place in person and infections are spreading more rapidly among children, it is essential to restore the involvement of educational institutions, the Ministry of Health said.
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Take Action to Protect Yourself
To stay safe during this challenging time, consider getting vaccinated, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, and practicing good hygiene. Regular hand washing and maintaining social distancing can significantly reduce the spread of these respiratory illnesses.
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