The Weekly Report on Respiratory Infections for the week of January 16-22, 2023 was published by EODY.

The following report reviews the available epidemiological data from the EODY surveillance systems for viral infections of the respiratory system (SARSCoV-2, influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus – RSV) in our country for the week of 03/2023 (January 16-22) .

219 hospitalizations with Covid-19 per day

In particular, 168 deaths of patients with Covid-19 were recorded (weekly change -15%), with an average age of 85 years. The total number of new hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19 in regional hospitals for the week since March 2023 amounted to 1535 people (weekly change -12%). The average daily hospitalization for the week was 219 people.

As noted in the report, the number of positive results in the total number of samples tested decreased compared to the previous week.

9 cases from “Kraken”

This week, strain BA.5 is still the most commonly recognized strain of Omicron in the country, while sub-variant BQ.1.1. shows an increase relative to other BA.5 sub-options.

In particular, in week 01 2023, the most frequent BA.2 sub-variant was BA.2.75 with a share of 46%, the CH.1.1 sub-variant corresponded to approximately 35% of the BA.2 samples, while the XBB sub-variant at 15% (Chart 18). Subvariant XBB.1.5 was found in only 9 samples.

In total, there are 45 people in the influenza intensive care unit.

There were 5 new severe cases of laboratory-confirmed type A influenza involving patients admitted to intensive care units and 2 new deaths. A total of 46 patients with influenza have been hospitalized in the ICU since the start of influenza surveillance and 12 deaths of patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza have been recorded. A total of 238 specimens were found positive for influenza viruses, of which 235 (99%) were type A strains and 3 (1%) were type B strains. Of the 228 type A strains, 220 (96.5%) were classified as subtype. A(H3N2) and 8 (3.5%) in subtype A(H1N1).

Influenza syndromes (regardless of pathogen)

✓ the community recorded a decrease compared to the previous week
✓ discount applies to all age groups

SARS-CoV2 virus – COVID-19 infection

✓ the number of positive results in all tested samples decreased compared to the previous week
✓ The number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 has decreased
✓ the number of new intubations has decreased
✓ The number of patients with COVID-19 infection hospitalized for intubation is 153.
✓ 168 deaths reported with a mean age of 85 years (range 55-97 years)
✓ BA.5 sub-option is still the most common Omicron sub-option
✓ increased percentage of subvariant BQ.1.1 in relation to other subvariants of strain BA.5
✓ VA.2.75 remains the most frequent sub-variant of VA.2 with a frequency of 46%, sub-variant
CH.1.1 corresponds to about 35% of BA.2 strains, while the XBB subvariant follows with a share of 15%.
✓ XBB.1.5 subvariant was found in only 9 samples.
✓ Viral load surveillance in municipal wastewater showed increased circulation of SARSCoV2 virus in 2 out of 10 areas tested

flu virus

✓ testing positive for influenza in the community showed no significant change
✓ In the week since 03/2023, there have been 2 new severe cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza involving ICU patients and 2 new deaths.
✓ From week 40/2022 to week 03/2023, 55 people with influenza were admitted to the intensive care unit and 17 deaths were recorded.
✓ From week 40/2022 to week 03/2023, 249 positive influenza samples (sentinel samples and hospital samples) were reported at two influenza reference centers, of which 246 (99%) were type A strains and 3 (1 %) were type B strains
✓ Of 245 type A strains, 236 (96%) were classified as subtype A(H3N2) and 9 (4%) as subtype A(H1N1)pdm09

Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV

✓ positivity showed a decrease compared to the previous week