The epidemiological activity of influenza is trending downward in Portugal, according to the Instituto Nacional Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), indicating a low incidence of influenza syndrome to 8.0 per 100,000 population.
According to the Influenza Epidemiological Bulletin for the period between April 25 and May 1 (week 17), the incidence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) followed the decline and also decreased to 8.0 per 100,000 population. (8.8 in the previous week).
According to INSA, only one case of influenza (influenza A) per week under analysis was reported by 19 intensive care units (ICUs). The patient was 74 years old, had comorbidities and was vaccinated against seasonal influenza.
Since the start of the season, 26 cases of influenza have been reported by intensive care units cooperating in surveillance, all due to influenza A virus.
As for the wings relaying information, since the beginning of the season 19 influenza cases have been reported, all equally due to influenza A.
In the 2021/2022 season, the laboratories of the Portuguese Network of Laboratories for Influenza Diagnostics (hospitals) recorded 100,116 cases of respiratory infection and 6,266 cases of influenza.
In the week between April 25 and May 1, 450 positive cases of the influenza virus were identified, all of them type A.
To date, 124 cases of co-infection with influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 have been detected.
In the bulletin, INSA also says that since the start of the 2021/22 season, other respiratory factors have been identified in 5,159 cases. In the week under review, there were 162 cases.
In all, as of Week 17 (April 25 to May 1) 204 influenza viruses had been diagnosed, all with antigenic properties different from the virus included in the 2021/2022 influenza vaccine.
Influenza vaccination began in Portugal at the end of September, earlier than usual due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and more than 2.5 million people have been vaccinated.
The INSA bulletin also states that deaths from all causes are “within expectations for this time of year.”
Regarding the European situation, INSA reported that in week 16 (18 to 24 April), several countries in the central and western part of the Europe region had a laboratory detection rate of influenza virus above 30%: Poland (67%), the Netherlands (63% ), France (45%), Estonia (44%), Luxembourg (33%), Denmark (30%) and Italy (30%).
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