GP workload continues to increase due to respiratory infections, including influenza. This is what emerges from the weekly report on respiratory infections published Wednesday by the Sciensano health institute.
The number of flu-related hospitalizations is approaching peaks in previous years, while the number of positive tests shows a slight decline. However, the level of contamination measured in wastewater remains very high.
The number of general medicine consultations for influenza-like illnesses stands at 644 per 100,000 inhabitants, a stable figure compared to the previous week (654), but which remains at a high level. This could indicate that a first peak has been reached.
During the third week of the year, January 13-19, 69% of GPs reported feeling a high or very high workload due to consultations for respiratory infections, a figure that has been steadily increasing in recent weeks. The previous week, this percentage was 59%.
In nursing homes, the flu virus seems to be calming down. The third week recorded 19 cases of influenza-like illness per 1,000 residents, compared to 23 the previous week. The number of hospitalizations remains stable between 2 and 3 per 1,000 inhabitants, as in the previous week.
-The coronavirus circulating in the population remains at a very low level. According to Sciensano, indicators relating to wastewater, new cases and hospitalizations remain low. For respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Sciensano also observes a decrease in the number of hospitalizations and positive tests. However, the number of positive tests remains above the epidemic threshold, and the level in wastewater remains high.
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