In total, 225 new influenza cases and 1,253 COVID-19 cases were added this week
In week ten, a grand total of 3,107 people fell ill with acute respiratory infections. Overall, 31.3% of all of the new cases involved children. In total, 225 new influenza cases were registered. A total of 1,253 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 total, 62.9% of those samples which were analysed were found to be positive for influenza-type viruses. The percentage of influenza A samples decreased considerably, now forming 2.9% of all Sentinel samples to have been analysed. The percentage of influenza B and rhinovirus samples increased however, with both forming 14.3% of the overall figure. The human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and RSV viruses are both at 5.7% of all positive Sentinel samples. The spread of influenza is showing a declining trend.
There are three sub-types of influenza which are currently circulating in Estonia: the A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm2009 influenza A sub-types, and the Victoria influenza B sub-type. In total, eighty-one influenza cases were confirmed through laboratory testing, including thirty-three influenza A cases and fifty-four influenza B cases. A total of eleven different influenza A sub-types and six influenza B sub-types were identified through accurate testing, including nine A(H1N1) pdm sub-types of influenza A and two A (H3) sub-types.
According to initial information from the Health and Welfare Information Systems Centre, fourteen patients were hospitalised with influenza in week ten. The number of influenza-related hospitalisation cases is dropping.
According to conclusively-validated information on the part of the National Institute for Health Development regarding causes of death, as many as fifty-three people have died due to influenza. Those individuals were aged between nine and 97.
In total, 1,253 COVID-19 cases were confirmed over the week. Compared to the week before, the overall number of registered cases has dropped by 4.2%. The spread of these diseases remains at a stable level in most age groups.
As of Tuesday morning, a total of 131 people are in hospital due to COVID-19, of which fifty-nine required treatment due to the presence of symptomatic COVID-19. This week saw three deaths being added to the overall total, involving individuals between the ages of 76-92. All of those individuals had serious underlying illnesses.
Based on sequencing data, fully all new COVID-19 cases which were registered last week were caused by the Omicron strain. There are currently only ‘variants of interest’ (VOI) and ‘variants under monitoring’ (VUM) in circulation, with the XBB recombinants forming more than 70% of all cases.