A sharp increase in flu cases caused by a new dominant strain of the virus is sweeping Europe, putting healthcare systems in some countries under severe pressure, the World Health Organization said.
The WHO said on Wednesday that at least 27 of the 38 countries in its European region were reporting "high or very high influenza activity," with more than half of patients with flu-like symptoms testing positive in six countries, including Ireland, Serbia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.
She said the flu season had started about four weeks earlier than in previous years and urged people to curb transmission by getting vaccinated, staying home if they feel unwell and wearing a mask in public if they have respiratory symptoms, they write. foreign media, the Telegraph reports.
The WHO stressed that the new variant of seasonal flu – A(H3N2) K – was causing infections, accounting for up to 90% of all confirmed flu cases in the European region, but added that there was no evidence that it was causing more severe illness.
Hans Henri Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said: "Flu appears every winter, but this year it is a little different. It shows how just a small genetic change in the flu virus can put huge pressure on our health systems."
Kluge also highlighted the risk of misinformation and disinformation.
"It is vital in the current climate to seek reliable information from trusted sources such as national health agencies and the WHO," he pointed out.
According to him, "in a challenging flu season, reliable, evidence-based information can be lifesaving."
The WHO said early data from the United Kingdom confirmed that the flu vaccine reduced the risk of severe illness from the A(H3N2) strain, although it may not prevent infection, and said vaccination remained the most important preventive step.
"This is especially important for those at higher risk, including the elderly, those with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women and children."
Healthcare workers were also a priority group to protect their own health and that of their patients.
"As in other seasons, school-age children are the main drivers of community spread," she added. "However, adults aged 65 and older account for the majority of severe cases requiring hospitalization."
Kluge said the flu season was expected to peak in late December or early January.
"The current flu season, while serious, does not represent the level of global emergency that we faced during the Covid-19 pandemic," he said, adding: "Our health systems have decades of experience in managing influenza, we have safe vaccines that are updated annually, and we have a clear manual of protective measures that work." /Telegrafi/
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