Flu cases in Latvia have decreased by 31.8%, yet five fatalities from confirmed flu infections were reported last week according to the Disease Prevention and Monitoring Centre (SPKC).
In Latvia, flu activity has shown a notable reduction of 31.8% in the past week, as reported by the Disease Prevention and Monitoring Centre (SPKC). However, during this period, five deaths were confirmed among patients with a diagnosed flu infection. Since the beginning of the flu season, there have been a total of 14 fatalities from the flu, with 79% of those who died being unvaccinated against the virus, underscoring the public health challenge that vaccination presents.
The SPKC's monitoring data indicates that flu was clinically confirmed in 216 patients in the last week, translating to an incidence of 311.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The previous week had recorded 309 cases, significantly higher at 455.8 cases per 100,000. The monitoring also indicates that flu cases were confirmed across all ten monitoring regions of Latvia, with the highest intensity recorded in Jelgava at 1205.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and in Liepaja at 580.0 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, highlighting geographic disparities in flu transmission rates.
It is important to note that historically, the highest rates of flu infections have been among children under 14 years. However, the latest data indicates a decrease in flu cases across all age groups. The ongoing public health response must focus on increasing vaccination rates, especially given the number of unvaccinated individuals among those who have succumbed to the flu, to mitigate the effects of the virus as the season progresses.
