The flu is here and there in Belgium. During the second week of January, some 77,000 Belgians went to their general practitioner for flu symptoms, according to the Sciensano Public Health Institute, which is delivering a new report dedicated to acute respiratory infections.
First observation: the sharp increase in flu cases leads to a (very) high workload for six out of ten general practitioners (654 consultations per 100,000 inhabitants). This is a sharp increase compared to the previous week. Some hospitals are also under pressure (pediatrics, geriatrics, etc.). Non-urgent operations have been postponed to free up beds. Flu patients are recommended not to crowd the emergency room, but to consult their doctor and treat themselves at home when there are no complications.
The interpretation of the data provided by Sciensano also makes it possible to understand that the increase in hospital admissions concerns more particularly acute respiratory infections. More than 1,600 Belgians are affected (14.3 per 100,000 inhabitants).
Second observation: the number of positive tests for influenza in laboratories continues to increase.
Finally, nursing homes pay a certain price for the flu with 23 cases per 1,000 residents during the second week of January. Of these residents, 2.3 per 1,000 required hospitalization.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases decline
Other respiratory viruses, such as the RSV virus, on the other hand, show a downward trend, although here too the figures remain high. The RSV virus (respiratory syncytial virus) infects the respiratory tract, particularly in young children. It is a leading cause of infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and children under two years of age. However, it can also affect adults, especially the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
Regarding respiratory infections, Belgium is currently in “code orange” (code red is the highest). This color-coded system was put in place – laboriously – during the coronavirus pandemic. It is accompanied by a series of recommendations which should make it possible to reduce the pressure placed on the health system, avoid a deterioration of the situation, limit the risk of spread and protect vulnerable people.
Recommendations to limit the spread of the virus
Public health experts put forward the following recommendations: wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use hydroalcoholic gel; ventilate interior spaces optimally and regularly; use a single-use tissue and sneeze into your elbow; stay home to stop the spread of the virus; wear a mask for at least 5 days after the onset of symptoms when in contact with other people and keep your distance, especially from vulnerable people and healthcare workers; for the most vulnerable, wear a mask in busy places.
-“Vulnerability” concerns those over 65, chronically ill people (lungs, heart, liver, kidneys), diabetics and people suffering from neuromuscular diseases; people suffering from impaired immunity, pregnant women and infants are also said to be vulnerable.
Alongside these precautionary measures, employers are advised to organize teleworking, where possible, for workers with symptoms and/or fragile health. Established during the coronavirus pandemic, teleworking has tended to reduce over the last two years in Belgium in favor of being present in the company. Finding some flexibility is encouraged.
It’s not (quite) too late to get vaccinated
Is it too late to get vaccinated? Yes, for this general practitioner who explains that “the flu epidemic started a month ago. It is currently approaching its peak and as the vaccine takes around two weeks after injection before proving effective, it risks being of little or no use.”
This response must be nuanced. Vaccination remains appropriate until the peak has been reached, according to the Superior Health Council (CSS). Especially among the vulnerable, for whom it can help deal with subsequent complications (for example, when the flu turns into pneumonia).
But the fact remains that ideally, you should have been vaccinated between mid-October and mid-November. “Given that it takes two weeks before the flu vaccine has a protective effect, a new vaccination campaign would have too little impact on public health at present,” state public health experts.
Reimbursement of the vaccine for people at risk and the authorization given two years ago to pharmacists to inject it have made it possible to marginally increase vaccination figures. 50.7% of seniors and 43.4% of chronically ill people are now vaccinated. In Wallonia, only 25% of people at risk are vaccinated, a rate well below the WHO recommendations (75%).
Finally, what about the coronavirus? It is currently circulating at a “remarkably low level” in Belgium, with a positivity rate decreasing by 2.7% of tests carried out. “Epidemiological data shows that the coronavirus currently has little impact on the current situation, and that there is therefore little argument for launching an additional campaign at this stage (although individual vaccination may be recommended for some immunocompromised people)”, communicated the experts of the Risk Management Group a week ago. This observation remains valid until proven otherwise.
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