Osakidetza warns that the flu epidemic could hit its peak in Christmas week

The incidence of influenza continues to rise in the Basque Autonomous Community and last year Osakidetzarecorded four times as many cases as at this time, while the number of hospital admissions is five times higher. In the last week, 438.87 cases of influenza have been detected per 100,000 inhabitants, 81 more than in the previous week.

The Department of Healthof the Basque Government has today disseminated these data and warned that if the upward trend continues, the epidemic could reach its peak in the Christmas week. It has therefore again advised the population to vaccinate and use the mask. "Vaccination and the use of the mask are, in the current context, the most appropriate flu prevention tool", it has stressed. 

Most cases in Bizkaia

By territory, the incidence remains higher in Bizkaia, with 506.44 cases, but it also increases significantly in Álava , with 445.99 cases: in the latter territory last week the incidence was 322.27 per 100,000 inhabitants, while in Gipuzkoait is 330. 

Since the beginning of this campaign, the networkof hospitals in Osakidetza  has dealt with 9,894 cases and so far there have been 1,086 hospitalizations, 37 of them in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs), a figure that is five times higher than that recorded the previous year.

The percentage of hospital beds currently occupied is 75.73, an increase of 4.27% compared to two weeks ago.

Vaccination

So far, a quarterof the ACV population has been vaccinated, and the number of people vaccinated over 60 is 55.8%. 

In total, the flu centres in Osakidetza have been placed 569,999 and the anti-covid centres  295,681. 

As for the users of nursing homes, more than two out of ten have been vaccinated. In children (under five years of age), 40.6% have been vaccinated against influenza.