Flu Cases in Lithuania Are Climbing: It Is Not Too Late to Get Flu Vaccine
Flu Cases in Lithuania Are Climbing: It Is Not Too Late to Get Flu Vaccine The National Public Health Center under the Ministry of Health (NVSC) informs that the overall incidence rate of influenza, acute respiratory infections (ARI) and COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) increased in the country over the last week. In week 45 (last week), the total number of cases increased to 672.4 cases per 100,000 compared to 500.6 cases per 100,000 in week 44.
The comparison of weeks 44 and 45 shows an increasing trend in the number of influenza and acute respiratory infection cases, and decreasing trend in the number of COVID-19 cases.
According to the data obtained by NVSC, the lowest incidence rate of the diseases over the period 7-13 November, was reported in Telšiai County, whereas the highest in Kaunas County.
Data for incidence of influenza, AURI and COVID-19 in different Counties
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Last week (7-13 November), 1 person was hospitalized due to flu, compared to 3 people the previous week (31 October to 6 November).
According to the data from the National Public Health Laboratory, in weeks 43 and 44 (2022) a total of 338 samples were taken from patients with symptoms of AURI, of which 10 samples were positive for influenza A virus and 21 were positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Seasonal incidence of influenza and acute respiratory infections in Lithuania since 2019.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), last week (week 44) in Europe, out of 37,252 samples taken to identify the influenza virus, 934 were positive (influenza type A accounted for 74%, and type B for 26 %).
Influenza virus detections by type, subtype/lineage and week – WHO Europe, season 2022/2023
For more information see https://flunewseurope.org/VirusCharacteristics
Vaccines are free
NVSC specialists remind that influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone, but especially for persons belonging to risk groups: people aged 65+ years, people living in social care and nursing facilities, people with chronic diseases, people with weakened immunity, as well as doctors and pregnant women.
This year, the medical institutions of the country have received more than 202 000 doses of influenza vaccine intended for vaccinating individuals at risk, and 126,604 persons got a free flu vaccine in September-October this year, of which almost 69% (87,067) were 65 years and above, 20.8 % (26,408) were persons with chronic diseases, 7.7 % (9,815) were health care workers, 2.1 % (2,781) were persons living in social care and nursing institutions, and 0.4 % (533) were pregnant women.
Last updated: 15-11-2022
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