Flu Season Is Ending: Incidence Rates Lower Than at the Same Time Last Year
According to the data possessed by the National Public Health Centre under the Ministry of Health (NVSC), during the week 19 of the year (May 4–10) in Lithuania, the overall incidence rate of influenza, acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), and COVID-19 slightly increased, reaching 575.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (compared to 542.7 cases per 100,000 during the week 18). At the same time last season, the overall incidence rate was 729.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The lowest incidence rate was recorded in Panevėžys County, while the highest was in Vilnius County. No Municipality reached the epidemic threshold level (the limit of 1,500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants was not exceeded).
Last week (week 19 of the year), 1 person in Lithuania was hospitalized due to influenza and 3 due to COVID-19. No patients with these illnesses required treatment in intensive care units. No deaths from either influenza or COVID-19 were recorded. In total this season, 86 people have died from influenza and 47 from COVID-19.
Data on illness rates in every Lithuanian municipality can be found on the NVSC website.
Incidence of influenza, AURTIs, and COVID-19 by County:
dministracinės teritorijos (apskritys) | 18 sav. (2026 m. balandžio 27 d. – gegužės 3 d.) | 19 sav. (2026 m. gegužės 4–10 d.) | ||||||||
Gripo atvejų skaičius | ŪVKTI atvejų skaičius | COVID-19 ligos atvejų skaičius | Suminis (gripo, ŪVKTI ir COVID-19 ligos) atvejų skaičius | Suminis rodiklis (gripo, ŪVKTI ir COVID-19 ligos atvejų skaičius 100 tūkst. gyventojų) | Gripo atvejų skaičius | ŪVKTI atvejų skaičius | COVID-19 ligos atvejų skaičius | Suminis (gripo, ŪVKTI ir COVID-19 ligos) atvejų skaičius | Suminis rodiklis (gripo, ŪVKTI ir COVID-19 ligos atvejų skaičius 100 tūkst. gyventojų) | |
Alytaus | 4 | 526 | 2 | 532 | 400,2 | 4 | 618 | 2 | 624 | 469,5 |
Kauno | 20 | 3155 | 10 | 3185 | 542,1 | 11 | 3230 | 12 | 3253 | 553,7 |
Klaipėdos | 10 | 1537 | 2 | 1549 | 450,5 | 15 | 1621 | 6 | 1642 | 477,5 |
Marijampolės | 3 | 596 | 1 | 600 | 449,9 | 4 | 660 | 1 | 665 | 498,7 |
Panevėžio | 2 | 626 | 3 | 631 | 304,8 | 3 | 722 | 2 | 727 | 351,2 |
Šiaulių | 5 | 1325 | 4 | 1334 | 500,1 | 3 | 1417 | 1 | 1421 | 532,7 |
Tauragės | 1 | 345 | 2 | 348 | 386,9 | 3 | 329 | 0 | 332 | 369,1 |
Telšių | 2 | 529 | 3 | 534 | 411,1 | 0 | 555 | 4 | 559 | 430,4 |
Utenos | 3 | 528 | 3 | 534 | 435,2 | 6 | 592 | 3 | 601 | 489,8 |
Vilniaus | 41 | 6366 | 34 | 6441 | 734,7 | 29 | 6763 | 33 | 6825 | 778,5 |
Iš viso Lietuvoje | 91 | 15533 | 64 | 15688 | 542,7 | 78 | 16507 | 64 | 16649 | 575,9 |
What HelpsProtect Against Infection?
We remind residents that the flu season is entering its final days. This week —week 20 of the year — is the last week of the 2025–2026 flu season, which began in October last year (week 40). However, even after the season ends, it is still recommended to carefully follow hand hygiene rules, observe coughing and sneezing etiquette by covering the mouth and nose with a disposable tissue, regularly ventilate rooms, and clean premises using wet-cleaning methods.
If symptoms such as sore throat, headache, nasal congestion, runny nose, or similar symptoms occur, people are advised to contact their doctor.
Situation in Europe
According to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for week 18, the spread of respiratory viruses in European Union / European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries has returned to normal seasonal levels, with low incidence rates being recorded.
The spread of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is declining, although the rate of decline has slowed compared to recent weeks.
Influenza incidence has reached inter-seasonal levels in almost all countries. Low numbers of cases and hospitalizations are being recorded across all age groups.
COVID-19 incidence and the number of hospitalized patients also remain very low across all age groups.
Source: https://erviss.org/