News
30.08.2024
FAQ: What should you know about monkeypox?
Although monkeypox continues to spread globally and in Europe, there have been no new cases reported in Estonia since 2022. However, the risk of introducing the disease still exists.
The symptoms of monkeypox are similar to those of smallpox, but milder: they include a fever, severe headache, muscle aches, backache, a swelling of the lymph nodes and fatigue as the initial symptoms. The characteristic skin rash usually appears 1 to 3 days after the onset of fever.
Healthcare professionals are prepared to take samples for testing if monkeypox is suspected, with the samples sent...
08.12.2023
Follow-up to the analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic: How can the state be more successful in tackling future crises?
The main lesson to learn: The state must be prepared for crisis
Mari-Anne Härma
Deputy Director General of the Health Board
The state’s most substantial lesson to learn from the COVID-19 crisis was that the state must be prepared for a crisis.
Given global megatrends — demographic change, urbanisation and climate change — it is certain that health crises will continue to recur and outbreaks of infectious diseases, epidemics and pandemics will only increase in the future.
Preparedness for a health crisis means high-level priorities:
crisis management...
27.11.2023
COVID-19 guidelines for the autumn-winter virus season
The Health Board has put together information to keep in mind during this virus season. There are currently no restrictions or obligations in place regarding COVID-19. However, it is worth reminding yourself how to prevent infection, when to get tested for the virus and who should consider vaccinating against COVID-19 this season.
Where to get information on COVID-19 morbidity?
The Health Board continues to publish weekly epidemiological reviews with data on morbidity and the spread of the virus. All data is available on the website of the Health Board (in Estonian...
19.05.2023
A total of 77 influenza and 817 COVID-19 cases reported this week
In week 19, a total of 1773 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections, of whom 39.3% were children. The overall incidence of acute respiratory viral diseases decreased by 12%.
Influenza morbidity increased by 18%, with around 40% of the infected being children of up to 15 years of age.
According to the Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre (TEHIK), a total of 8 patients were hospitalised due to influenza in recent weeks. In total 1312 people have been hospitalised due to influenza since the beginning of the season. 67.5% of them were over 50 years old. According to...
11.05.2023
A total of 65 influenza and 1,042 COVID-19 cases reported this week
In week 18, a total of 2,024 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections, of whom 35.6% were children. Overall morbidity decreased by 13%.
The number of influenza cases decreased by 59% compared to the previous week. Children aged 15 and under accounted for nearly half of all reported cases of influenza.
In total 1,304 people have been hospitalised due to influenza since the beginning of the season. People over the age of 50 accounted for 67.9% of these cases, with children aged 4 and under accounting for 16.7%. According to conclusively validated data from the Causes of...
27.04.2023
A total of 140 influenza and 1445 COVID-19 cases reported this week
In week 16 a total of 2785 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections, of whom 37.5% were children. The overall incidence of acute respiratory viral diseases decreased by 13%.
The number of influenza cases decreased by 31% compared to the previous week. 60% of all reported cases of influenza were among children aged 15 and below. Based on information logged during the targeted survey, infections of acute respiratory viral diseases are currently spreading at a low rate, with the spread of the influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses remaining extensive.
The morbidity rate of influenza is...
21.04.2023
A total of 202 influenza and 1,726 COVID-19 cases reported this week
In week fifteen, a total of 3,184 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections, of whom 38.4% were children. The overall incidence of acute respiratory viral diseases increased by 39%.
The number of influenza cases increased by 34% compared to the previous week. Children aged 15 and under accounted for 44.6% of all reported cases of influenza. Based on information logged during the targeted survey, infections are currently spreading at a moderate rate, with the spread of the influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses remaining extensive.
According to the Health and Welfare Information...
14.04.2023
A total of 151 new influenza cases and 1,466 COVID-19 cases have been added this week
In week fourteen, a grand total of 2,297 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections. Overall, 36.4% of all of the new cases involved children. The number of new cases decreased by a third.
Based on information which had been logged during the Sentinel targeted survey, 50% of the samples were positive for influenza-like viruses. The influenza B virus dominates, forming 37.5% of all positive Sentinel samples.
In total, 151 influenza cases were registered. When compared to last week’s figures, the number of new influenza cases can be seen to have dropped by 38%, with the...
06.04.2023
Communicable diseases overview: in total, 243 new influenza cases and 1,740 COVID-19 cases were added this week
In week thirteen a grand total of 3,613 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections. Overall, 36.7% of all of the new cases involved children. The number of new cases increased by 17%. In total, 243 new influenza cases and a total of 1,740 new COVID-19 cases were added.
Based on initial information, 75.9% of all samples analysed were positive for influenza-type viruses. The influenza B virus dominates, forming 31% of all positive Sentinel samples. The percentage of parainfluenza samples formed 13.8% of all Sentinel samples to have been analysed. Rhinoviruses and SARS-CoV-2 both form...
30.03.2023
In total, 306 new influenza cases and 1,764 COVID-19 cases were added this week
In week twelve, a grand total of 3,094 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections. Overall, 36.3% of all of the new cases involved children. In total, 306 new influenza cases were registered. A total of 1,764 new COVID-19 cases were also added.
Based on information which had been logged during the Sentinel targeted survey, infections are currently spreading at a moderate rate, with the spread of the influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses remaining extensive. In general, the spread of these viruses remains stable. In total, 47.4% of those Sentinel samples which were analysed were found to...