Flu incidence in Latvia remains above epidemic thresholds, but recent data from the Disease Prevention and Control Centre (SPKC) indicates a 24% decrease in reported cases last week. The incidence rate dropped from 250.6 cases to 190.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Despite this decrease, flu remains prevalent in eight out of ten monitored regions, with the highest rates found in Jelgava, where the incidence reached 456.2 cases per 100,000 people.

Laboratory surveillance indicates that 12.4% of samples tested by the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory confirmed the presence of the flu virus last week, down from 15% the week prior. All confirmed cases were identified as Type A influenza viruses, which have been dominant since the start of the season; however, there has been a noted increase in the incidence of the A/H1pdm subtype recently. This shift in subtype prevalence could have implications for ongoing public health monitoring and response strategies.

As Latvia continues to combat the flu, these monitoring efforts remain crucial. Public health authorities are likely to remain vigilant, especially given the fluctuations in variant dominance and potential pressures on healthcare resources in regions experiencing high case numbers. Monitoring trends, such as the recent decrease, may guide decisions for health interventions and preventative measures in the coming weeks.