Respiratory syncytial virus

As the WHO European Region enters its fifth winter since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, emphasized that while the world is now better equipped with tools and knowledge, caution remains essential.

Professor Todor Kantardzhiev summarized on BNT that the flu wave has passed, there will be more cases, but they will decrease with each passing week. In the regions of Dobrich, Stara Zagora, and Haskovo, there has been a slight increase in cases over the past week, but the flu is decreasing in all other regions.

At least 200 to 300 patients are admitted to intensive care units in Istanbul daily as cold weather exacerbates viral infections, leading to a serious shortage of beds, experts warn, calling for enhanced health care resources and vaccination efforts to combat the surge.

A simultaneous outbreak of three diseases affecting the respiratory system has never been seen before, medical experts say. But this is what has happened at the start of 2024, with cases of Covid, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) affecting a significant percentage of the population.

The week before Christmas saw a sharp increase in cases of Covid-19, flu or flu-like symptoms and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections, the National Organization for Public Health (EODY) has said.

The triple onslaught of Covid-19, which began in early December, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has intensified in the last week due to large Christmas gatherings, with health experts stressing "we are only at the beginning" and predicting it will continue until the end of January and early February. 

The Committee of Experts concluded its session discussing the reinstatement of mandatory mask use in hospitals and accommodation units on Thursday. Sources indicate no decision on a universal return to masks in healthcare facilities, only a strong recommendation for their usage. 

The possibility of reinstating mandatory masks across the country's healthcare facilities was under consideration by the Ministry's Committee of Experts on Thursday. 

China's health ministry announced on Sunday that the recent upsurge in respiratory illnesses, which has captured the World Health Organization's attention, is attributed to the influenza virus and other established pathogens rather than an unidentified novel virus.

Ljubljana – The season of respiratory infections in children is in full swing, having kicked in earlier than in previous years. There is an uptick in young children who need hospital treatment, including in intensive care. One of the reasons is that respiratory viruses circulated at very low levels during the epidemic due to anti-coronavirus measures.