The cold is a long time coming, but the number of RSV cases is already rising, and the flu remains stable.

Last Surveillance of Acute Respiratory Infections Report (SiVIRA) in Spain, published by the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), revealed small reduction in incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARI) and hospitalizations for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI). GM will issue a weekly report on diagnosed cases of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to report on the evolution of these diseases.

The reduction in SARI hospitalizations and ARI incidence does not appear to be associated with an increase in the incidence of influenza and RSV has been recorded. This increase in respiratory infections, which is usually associated with the coldest months, occurs in a complex health context characterized by a number of climatic and epidemiological factors. In particular, recent DANA which affected the Valencia region and other areas of the eastern peninsula, contributed to possible spread of these respiratory viruseswhich could be the reason for the increase in influenza and RSV cases in some areas of the country.

Increased incidence of influenza and RSV

Nationally, the IRA rate has risen to 390.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitantscompared to 475.3 cases in the previous week. Regarding cases reported to primary health care, the report details:

• Flu: incidence increases slightly and decreases from 12.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous week to 12.9 cases.
• COVID-19: Incident 18.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitantswhich was down from 25.2 cases the previous week.
• HRV: the incidence increased to 7 cases per 100,000 inhabitantsup from 4.8 cases reported last week.

Stability of hospitalizations

In terms of hospitalization rates for SARI, there was a slight decrease from 11.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants the week before 11.3 cases over the last week.

Analysis by type of infection shows different trends in hospitalizations:

• Flu: Hospitalization rates remain stable, being 0.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during this week and the previous one.
• COVID-19: Hospitalization rates due to COVID-19 also remained stable in 0.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
• HRV: Hospitalization rates for RSV have stabilized at 0.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 0.3 the previous week.

Monitoring of this data will remain constant in the coming weeks and GM will issue weekly reports to monitor and respond to the development of these infections among the Spanish population.

Mortality surveillance

The Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo) recorded 7908 deaths in the 44th week of 2024 in Spain, below 8154 deaths expected according to basic estimates. This data is updated daily to reflect developments in real time.

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