70,000 people sought medical help for flu symptoms in the fourth week of January – an 8-year record
For the first time in eight years, the number of flu-like illnesses in late January has reached such high levels, according to the latest report from the National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK).
Monitoring data on respiratory infections shows that between January 20 and 26, a total of 69,900 people visited doctors with flu symptoms—16,000 more than the previous week. Comparable figures for this period were recorded only twice in recent years: in 2019, with 65,000 cases, and in 2017, with 102,700 cases.
The highest flu incidence rates were reported in the regions of Heves (1,218 cases per 100,000 people), Veszprém (1,050), and Tolna (1,029). The lowest rates were recorded in Zala (369), Nógrád (471), and Budapest (449).
As part of epidemiological surveillance, doctors conducted 333 tests on patients with respiratory infections in the fourth week of January. The flu virus (types A and B) was detected in 171 samples, human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in six patients, SARS-CoV-2 in five, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in four. The positivity rate for flu tests stood at 51.4%.
During the week, 293 people were hospitalized with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), 36 of whom required intensive care. Among the hospitalized patients, 128 tested positive for flu, 28 for RSV, and 13 for COVID-19. The report notes that most COVID-19 patients were over 60 years old, while 78.6% of those with severe RSV were children under two.
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