Tissues, sneezes, coughs and thermometers are usually part of the usual January landscape. Coming from Christmas gatherings and the cold, which favors more stays in poorly ventilated interiors, they are an ideal breeding ground for the spread of respiratory infections. To this we must add the reverberations of the pandemic in the memory, as well as the speed and amount of information, in many cases not very conveniently verified, about viruses, which many people are afraid of an increase in cases of the flu, for example.
Yes, it’s true occurrence of respiratory viruses in the last week, it left the biggest increase of the season – from 641 cases per 100,000 inhabitants to 805, according to the Carlos III Institute of Health, a number supported mainly by the flu – although the intensity is “low”. “, as reported by EFE.
There are those who have begun to speak of a “quintudemic”, though Professor of Microbiology at the University of Salamanca Raúl Rivas He sees them as “somewhat alarming headlines”. “These are respiratory viruses, many of which, most of them, have been circulating for quite some time,” he explains El HuffPost.
“We’re in the season of respiratory viruses in the northern hemisphere, and that doesn’t mean there’s going to be a global pandemic,” he reassures. “This means we have to be vigilant to prevent health services from collapsing. That is why investments in health and also in primary care are so important.because it relieves many other aspects like the emergency area of hospitals,” he defends.
With him, we find out what it is good to know and what to worry about and what to be afraid of nowadays about flu, covid, RSV, norovirus and metapneumovirus.
Influenza: the peak has not yet arrived, but so far everything is within normal limits
According to data from the Health Institute of Carlos III. released this Thursday, the estimated primary care flu rate in the second week of the year (Jan. 6-12) increased from 213.5 to 328 cases/100,000 population, with hospitalizations increasing. from 5 to 6.3.
The flu crossed the epidemic threshold in the last week of 2024, as reported by EFE, but so far it is “epidemic of low intensity”.
Rivas says that “basically no new developments are expected” regarding the flu: “We’re in the flu season, both type A and type B. So we’re actually expected to peak in the coming weeks.” That same week, the Department of Health was “moderately optimistic” about the flu, noting that the peak was expected in “two or three weeks”.
The microbiologist recommends vaccination “Just as a preventative measure that also allows health centers to get rid of flu cases that can become serious.” If you’re not wearing it, it’s not too late and “it’s still recommended.” Here we recommend a consultation with a health center.
Covid: now another regular feature of winter
This is indicated by data from the Carlos III Health Institute The incidence of covid has increased but in very low numbers: from 10.9 to 15.3 cases/100,000 inhabitants. The income practically does not change, it ranges from 0.5 to 0.6.
“In the end, as expected, it became part of the catalog of seasonal respiratory viruses. And it continues like this,” sums up Rivas.
There will still be cases because the virus is still circulating: “It will cause milder symptoms in some than others, but come on, it will continue.”
“The fact that vaccines exist that many people get vaccinatedfor example, elderly people, and because a large part of the population has immunity, the number of serious cases is lower,” he highlights.
Norovirus: an old familiar stomach virus
Norovirus is a word that many people haven’t heard before, but around Christmas time it started to be everywhere. However, it is an old acquaintance. “When they say “you have a stomach virus” it’s often norovirussays Rivas.
“It’s a common virus that causes different types of problems related to vomiting, diarrhea…” he explains. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are approximately 685 million cases each year, about 200 in children under the age of five. “What it can cause is quite severe diarrhea which may cause dehydration, especially in young children and older adults” he adds.
The expert warns that it is “highly contagious”: “And because it causes acute gastroenteritis, some cases require hospitalization or treatment.”
Outbreaks usually occur in closed environments and that is why they are so connected, for example, to cruises, residences or barracks. “It is spread by direct contact with someone who is sick, sharing food (such as certain seafood or raw foods) or drinking contaminated liquids, or touching contaminated objects and surfaces and then putting your hands in your mouth,” he said. lists.
Therefore, it is necessary to observe preventive measures, such as maintaining proper hand hygiene, cooking food well and washing fruits and vegetables properly, or cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. “When someone is sick, they should stay at home until the symptoms disappear and notify them,” advises the professor, as well as being careful with items that may be contaminated, such as towels or bedding.
VRS: the best news
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is “the main cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children,” explains Raúl Rivas.
Here’s some good news from the data in recent days: dropped from 75.6 to 64.5 cases/100,000 population and the number of hospitalizations decreased from 5.2 to 3.8.
Also we must celebrate the effect of nirsevimab“the antibody that’s recommended for all babies under 8 months”: “It’s the one that caused RSV hospitalizations in children to drop absolutely.”
As he specifies, it is a “maternal vaccine” recommended to be given between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, “what it does is create antibodies that are later transferred to the baby.” “And then we have the antibody treatment, although I know people call it a vaccine, but it’s not quite a vaccine, nirsevimab, which is the one that’s given to babies as young as 8 months.” ” he adds. “The protection is amazing.”emphasizes.
Metapneumovirus: neither new nor should we worry
An outbreak of several respiratory infections in northern China, including metapneumovirus (HMPV), raised some concerns, which were quickly dismissed by the WHO. The organization sent a calm message: everything was within the normal winter range.
Although the name may not be familiar to many, “it is a well-known virus,” the expert points out: “It’s nothing new that’s emerging now and it’s particularly aggressive, no“.
It was described in isolation in 2001 in the Netherlands, “but genetic data suggest that it has been circulating in humans since at least the mid-20th century”. “Actually he isMost of us have probably been infected at least once because of this virus, although we don’t know because it’s a common virus that normally circulates seasonally in the northern hemisphere,” he adds.
Where it can be a little more concerning, especially if it causes a lower respiratory tract infection, is “in young children, in older adults, in people with weakened immune systems, or in patients with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease.
Rivas remembers that “every season we have human metapneumovirus” in Spain and that “there is no particularly extraordinary peak”: “With the decline in RSV cases, more cases may have been detected that previously went unnoticed because of the focus on RSV. So maybe the case detection will pick up a bit now.”
