It’s official. Belgium’s flu season has begun. For a second week now the number of visits to GPs on account of flu is above the normal baseline, science health institute Sciensano reports. ‘It’s a relatively early start to the flu season,’ notes virologist Steven Van Gucht.
Every week Sciensano publishes a report on the prevalence of acute respiratory infections. In week 51 (16 to 22 December), the number of GP consultations for flu was 115 per 100,000 population. Also in week 50, the number of consultations for flu rose above baseline level.
This marks the beginning of the flu season, Sciensano says. ‘It is a relatively early start,’ notes virologist Steven Van Gucht. ‘In the coming weeks, the number of flu cases will increase further.’
‘Given the Christmas holidays, the number of cases is still relatively low, but when schools reopen, we will probably see an increase in the figures,’ virologist Johan Neyts adds.
The number of lab tests confirming flu is also on the rise, although their number still remains relatively low. Which sub-variant of the influenza virus is currently making the rounds is not yet clear.
Decline in RSV infections appears to have begun
The number of RSV infections remains high. Now, however, a declining trend seems to have begun. ‘With regard to RSV, in week 51 we were still well above the epidemic threshold of 266 infections per 100,000 inhabitants,’ says Neyts. ‘The peak is not over yet, but levels are already declining.’
The peak also seems to be lower than in the past two years. Neyts is cautiously optimistic that this is an effect of vaccination with the new drug Beyfortus, which in some cases is now being reimbursed. ‘I think we are seeing an impact both from the vaccination of pregnant women and shots with antibodies from infants born during the RSV season,’ Neyts says.