The number of people admitted to hospital with severe acute respiratory infections in Belgium remains stable, but at a high level. The figures come from a weekly bulletin published by Sciensano, the Belgian health science institute.
Hospital admissions with severe acute respiratory infections stable, but level is high
Colin Clapson
Published:
In the week of 5 January, hospital admissions for severe acute respiratory infections remained at 21.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. This is exactly the same as the previous week. Sciensano's “respi-radar” still colours orange, indicating that hospital admissions are at a high level.
Influenza and RSV infections in particular are contributing to these hospital admissions. Sciensano's report shows that the number of positive laboratory tests for RSV has decreased in the population at large. This is mainly due to the slower spread among children aged 0 to 4 years. Among the over-65s, there has been a clear increase.
The number of consultations with GPs for flu-like symptoms rose again in the week of 12 January to 414 per 100,000 inhabitants. A week earlier, the figure was 326 per 100,000.
Code orange
The Risk Management Group (RMG) of the Public Health ministry already raised the warning level for respiratory infections to code orange last Thursday. This warning code indicates a ‘high circulation of respiratory germs with significant pressure on the healthcare system’.
Code orange highlights the advice to stay at home if you are ill, but also recommends that you continue to wear a face mask in busy places, when in contact with vulnerable people, and during all contact with healthcare personnel, for as long as you have mild symptoms and for at least five days after the onset of symptoms.