This Wednesday the mandatory mask came into force in health centers due to the increase in cases in recent weeks
MADRID, 11 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The incidence of flu in Primary Care has decreased for the first time in four weeks in all of Spain except in the Balearic Islands, which implies that the peak of activity could have been reached in the last week of 2023, according to the latest report from the Flu Surveillance System. Acute Respiratory Infection (Sivira) from the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), which collects data from the first week of the year – from January 1 to 7 -.
This decrease is evident in all age groups except in the 45-64 year old group. This week, the incidence rate stands at 387.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 430.7 cases in the previous week. That is, in one week, cases have decreased by 10 percent.
By age groups, this week, the highest rates of AP are observed in the group of children under one year of age (784.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).
Regarding the hospitalization rate for flu during the week, it reaches 14 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (10.2 cases in the previous week), and has increased since the first week of last November; although the severity indicators indicate values ??in the range of previous seasons. By age group, the highest hospitalization rates are observed in the group of adults aged 80 or over (93.7 cases/100,000 inhabitants).
This report is published one day after the Minister of Health, Mónica García, announced the mandatory use of masks in health centers and hospitals due to the rise in the incidence of respiratory virus infections, especially influenza, in recent years. weeks.
This is an “indefinite” measure that the autonomous communities may change to a recommendation as long as they show a “decline in the case curve” for two weeks.
Likewise, at a press conference, he announced that, when the general epidemiological situation in Spain decreases, the Ministry of Health itself will “invite” the recommendation, instead of making it mandatory.
In this way, the Autonomous Communities that have already seen a decline in the curve for two weeks are Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Cantabria and Extremadura, according to the ISCIII report. Others, however, have begun their decline in the first week of the year, as is the case of Asturias, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Valencian Community, Galicia, Madrid. If the latter maintain the trend, they could go from the mask mandate to the recommendation in the next week.
Aragon, Navarra and Catalonia, on the other hand, have registered an increase in incidence compared to the last week. There is no updated data in this report for Murcia, the Basque Country, La Rioja, Ceuta and Melilla.
DECREASES THE GLOBAL RATE OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
In total, the global rate of acute respiratory infections in Primary Care (ARIs) is 935.1 cases/100,000 inhabitants (966.2 cases in the previous week), which implies a decrease of 3 percent.
By age groups, the highest rates of ARIs in AP occur in the group of children under one year of age (3,923.2 cases/100,000 inhabitants), followed by the group of 1-4 years of age (1,675.6 cases/100,000 population). The data show a downward trend in those under 15 years of age, while young adults and people aged 65 or over continue to rise slightly. “A trend towards stabilization is observed in the rate of influenza syndrome, while the rate of bronchiolitis decreases,” the report states.
This week, the positivity of flu cases is 41.4 percent (vs. 44.6% in the previous week), 10.6 percent for SARS-CoV-2 (vs. 9.6% in the previous week). previous week) and 6 percent for respiratory syncytial virus (vs. 9.9% in the previous week).
THE INCIDENCE OF COVID-19 INCREASES SLIGHTLY
Regarding the Covid-19 rate in AP, it stands at 98.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (93 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous week). By age groups, the highest rates in PC are observed in the group of children under one year of age (653.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).
Regarding the hospitalization rate for Covid-19, this stands at 4.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (3.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous week). By age group, the highest hospitalization rates are observed in children under one year of age (40.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and in adults aged 80 or over (32.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).
DECLINE IN CASES OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTHIAL VIRUS INFECTION
On the other hand, there has also been a notable decrease in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Specifically, the infection rate stands at 56.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to the 95.7 cases documented in the last week of 2023.
By age groups, the highest rates of PA are observed in the group of children under one year of age (653.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), followed by the group of 1-4 years (201.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).
