An intense surge in flu cases caused by a dominant new strain of the virus is sweeping Europe, putting health systems in several countries under severe pressure. World Health Organization said.
The WHO said Wednesday that at least 27 of 38 countries in its European region reported “high or very high influenza activity,” with more than half of patients with flu-like symptoms testing positive in six countries, including Ireland, Serbia, Slovenia and Britain.
The department said the flu season began about four weeks earlier than in previous years and urged the public to limit transmission of the virus by getting vaccinated, staying home if feeling sick and wearing a mask in public if they have respiratory symptoms.
The WHO said a new seasonal flu variant – subclass A(H3N2) K – is responsible for infections that account for up to 90% of all confirmed flu cases in the European region, but added there is no evidence it causes more severe disease.
Hans Henri Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said: “Flu appears every winter, but this year is a little different. It shows how even a small genetic variation of the influenza virus can put enormous pressure on our health systems.”
Kluge also emphasized the dangers of disinformation and disinformation. “In the current climate, it is vital to seek reliable information from reliable sources such as national health agencies and WHO,” he said. “During a challenging flu season, trustworthy, science-based information can save lives.”
The WHO said early data from Britain confirmed the flu vaccine reduced the risk of severe illness from the A(H3N2) strain, although it may not prevent infection, and said vaccination remained the single most important preventive step.
“This is especially important for those at higher risk, including older adults, people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and children,” it said. Health workers were also a priority group to protect their health and the health of their patients.
“As in other seasons, school-age children are the primary driver of community spread,” it added. “However, adults aged 65 and older make up the majority of severe cases requiring hospitalization.”
Kluge said flu season is expected to peak in late December or early January. “The current flu season, while serious, does not reflect the level of global emergency we face during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said, adding: “Our health systems have decades of experience fighting influenza, we have safe vaccines that are updated annually, and we have a clear list of effective protective measures.”
Britain's National Health Service said last week it was preparing for one of its worst winters in history amid growing pressure on GP surgeries, hospitals and ambulance services. Robert Koch Institute in Germany said that the flu season has begun in the country two to three weeks earlier.
France's national public health agency Santé publique said flu activity was “strongly increasing” in metropolitan France, with cases rising in all age groups and the number of people seeking treatment in hospital emergency departments rising.
In Spain, infection rates have already surpassed last year's winter peak and hospitalizations have doubled in a week, while Romania and Hungary have also seen strong increases in cases.
