Cases of acute respiratory illnesses have declined again this past week, according to the latest data. The State Health Institute (SZÚ) reports a six percent drop, bringing the count to 1,867 patients per 100,000 people. This confirms epidemiologists’ predictions that the flu epidemic is gradually weakening.
The highest illness rates continue to affect the youngest demographic – children under five years old, with 4,595 cases per 100,000 individuals. Regionally, the Vysočina and Hradec Králové regions face the most challenging situations, reporting 2,440 and 2,381 cases per 100,000 residents respectively.
Week-over-week, flu-specific illnesses have dropped by nearly twenty percent. “The number of patients with flu is decreasing across all age groups and in nine regions. It’s evident that the flu epidemic in the Czech Republic is receding, albeit slowly,” stated Jan Kynčl, head of the Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at SZÚ. Influenza viruses remain the dominant cause of respiratory illnesses.
The current flu season has resulted in 373 severe cases requiring intensive care hospitalization. Tragically, 102 patients have succumbed to flu complications.
Despite the arrival of sunny spring days, epidemiologists warn against underestimating protection from respiratory diseases. They emphasize the continued necessity of maintaining hygiene practices and strengthening immunity through fresh air, physical activity, and proper nutrition.