The numbers of people affected by the flu are rising. In the pre-Christmas week, according to the latest RespiVirNet report, nationally we almost reached one million cases, with an incidence of 17.1 patients per 1,000 patients, almost three more than in the previous period.
Flu boom
In fact, in the period from 15 to 21 December, around 950 thousand new cases were estimated, with a total of around 5.8 million cases since the start of surveillance. The highest incidence is observed, as usual, in the 0-4 age group, with approximately 50 cases per 1,000 patients.
Which viruses circulate the most
Based on the analyzes carried out, of the 3,744 clinical samples received from the various laboratories, 44.2% tested positive for the influenza virus, while the remainder are divided between Sars-Cov-2, Rhinovirus, human Coronaviruses other than Sars-Cov-2, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza viruses, Bocavirus, Metapneumovirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virtus.
The “K variant”
In particular, this winter season is characterized by the spread of the “K variant” of the influenza virus, i.e. the A(H3N2) virus, which also manifests itself with gastrointestinal problems, in addition to the classic cough, fever, headache, marked tiredness and muscle pain. The spread of the virus is putting the national hospital system to the test, and that of Rome and Lazio is not exempt.
Data from Lazio
Lazio, together with Veneto, the province of Bolzano, Marche and Campania, has a very high incidence, while it is high in Sicily, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, Lazio and Abruzzo, medium in Val d’Aosta, Lombardy, Tuscany and Puglia. According to the latest report from RespiVirNet, the bulletin of the Infectious Diseases department of the ISS, in the week from 15 to 21 December in our region there were 3,773 cases of patients with acute respiratory infections, with an incidence of 17.56 cases per 1,000 patients, therefore slightly higher than the national average.
The age groups most affected
Among the most affected age groups is that of 0 to 4 years, in line with the national trend: 534 cases in a week, before Christmas, with an incidence of over 48 cases per 1,000. As many as 827 cases for the 45 to 64 age group.
The real peak is yet to come
But, despite the already significant numbers before Christmas, experts predict that the real peak is yet to arrive. As Anna Teresa Palamara, director of the Infectious Diseases department of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, explains, “the data shows that we are approaching the peak of cases, which will probably be reached in the coming weeks, in which we expect a sustained circulation of respiratory viruses as expected for the period”. The New Year’s Eve dinner, therefore, is not risk-free for millions of Italians and tens of thousands of inhabitants of Lazio and Rome.
Emergency room taken by storm
The emergency rooms are literally under attack, approximately 20% of the total patients show up in the waiting rooms with flu symptoms, also due to the closure of medical clinics during the Christmas holidays. Only since 29 December, in fact, have family doctors resumed their activity and find their waiting rooms overflowing: “Unfortunately, as reported by some Regions, this year too the increase in the number of cases corresponds to an increase in the number of visits to the emergency room – adds Palamara – and hospitalizations especially for older people. Especially in these days in which opportunities for meeting and conviviality can favor the transmission of respiratory viruses, we remember that some simple precautions are useful to reduce the risk of contagion. From ventilation of the premises to hand washing to the so-called ‘respiratory etiquette’, which are also reported in the FAQ on influenza and other respiratory viruses that we have published”.
Access in real time
By consulting access to Rome’s emergency rooms in real time (data available on the Salute Lazio website), just before 4pm on Tuesday 30 December there were 135 patients at Umberto I, 95 at San Giovanni Addolorata, 143 at Policlinico Gemelli, 30 at Bambino Gesù and 94 at San Camillo-Forlanini. Of all these, 46 were classified as “code green” immediately after triage.
In the last week, which saw the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays, there were between 120 and 150 visits to the Santo Spirito emergency room alone for high fever or flu symptoms, as reported by the Roma 1 ASL. Practically around 50% of the total visits.
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