The Respiratory Infections Weekly Report for the week of December 26 to January 1, 2023 was released 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 52/2022 (December 26-January 01, 2023).

141 deaths from Covid 19

Specifically, according to EODY, during the week of December 26–January 1, there were 141 deaths in COVID-19 patients with a mean age of 85 years (range 56–96), all of whom had an underlying disease and/or were 70 years of age or older. .

It is noted that the total number of new hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19 in the week 51/2022 amounted to 1519 people. The average daily hospitalization for the week was 217 people.

The number of new intubations of patients with COVID-19 infection at week 51/2022 was 119 (62% of men). The average age of patients is 75 years and older.

3 flu deaths

During the same period, 3 deaths were registered from influenza, while the total number of deaths from the influenza virus in our country reaches 6. These are 2 men and 4 women (age range: 41-84 years, median age: 69.5 years) .

In particular, in week 51/2022, 1 new serious case of laboratory-confirmed type A influenza was reported with admission to the intensive care unit.

In total, from week 40/2022 to week 51/2022, 27 people were hospitalized with influenza in the intensive care unit.

Announcement in detail:

Influenza syndromes (regardless of pathogen)

✓ The community recorded further growth compared to the previous week

✓ The increase affected all age groups

✓ In all age groups, the number of influenza cases per 1000 visits exceeded the corresponding figure for the period 2019-2020. (before the pandemic)

SARS-CoV2 virus – COVID-19 infection

✓ The number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 showed an increase compared to the previous week

✓ The number of intubated patients with COVID-19 infection by the end of the 52nd week of 2022 is 119 people.

✓ There were 141 deaths with a mean age of 84 years (range 2-102)

✓ BA.5 sub-variant is still the most frequent Omicron sub-variant in our country

✓ The percentage of sub-variant BQ.1.1 shows an increase in relation to other sub-variants of strain BA.5

✓ Among BA.2 strains, the most commonly recognized subvariant is BA.2.75

✓ Viral load surveillance in municipal wastewater showed an increase in SARSCoV2 virus circulation in 3 out of 8 districts tested

flu virus

✓ Flu positivity in the community showed further growth

✓ 1 new severe case of laboratory-confirmed influenza type A with ICU admission and 3 new deaths in week 52/2022

✓ in total, from week 40, 2022 to week 52, 2022, 27 patients with influenza were hospitalized in the ICU and 6 deaths of patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza were registered

✓ A total of 186 positive samples for influenza viruses were detected from two reference centers from week 40, 2022 to week 52, 2022, of which 184 (99%) were type A strains and 2 (1%) were influenza A strains type A. B

✓ Of 184 type A strains, 180 (98%) were classified as subtype A(H3N2) and 4 (2%) as subtype A(H1N1)pdm09

Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV

✓ a positive result shows a slight decrease from the previous week in a sample from a mass community sample (non-sentinel samples)

During week 52/2022, the number of network doctors reporting clinical data was 118 and all-cause visits were 13,670. This week, the number of influenza cases per 1,000 visits increased by
with the previous week (chart 1). The increase is recorded in all age groups (Fig. 2). In all age groups, the number of influenza cases per 1,000 visits exceeded the corresponding figure for the period 2019-2020. (pre-pandemic).

The total number of new hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19 in territorial hospitals for the week 52/2022 was 1519 (+22% weekly change). The average daily hospitalization for the week was 217. Chart 5 shows the weekly distribution of new COVID-19 patient admissions to hospitals in the territory.