The Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis hospital has postponed scheduled operations due to a surge in patients suffering from influenza, as the Netherlands prepares for the annual carnival celebrations. The decision comes as the Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) officially declared a flu epidemic on Wednesday, February 11th, with 59 out of 100,000 people visiting their general practitioner with flu-like symptoms in a single week.
A spokesperson for the hospital stated that the postponement was necessary due to the high number of patients requiring admission for severe flu symptoms, coupled with a backlog of patients awaiting discharge to care facilities, rehabilitation centers, or home healthcare. This situation is causing stagnation in care provision, according to Rijnmond news.
Demissionary Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, Jan Anthonie Bruijn, has urged citizens experiencing cold or flu symptoms to refrain from participating in carnival festivities. “If you are sick, do not travel hossen on the street, because you will make everyone around you sick,” Bruijn stated prior to a cabinet meeting, as reported by L1 Nieuws. He also recommended the use of face masks when providing care to vulnerable individuals and advised coughing or sneezing into the elbow.
The timing of the epidemic coincides with the traditional carnival season, a period characterized by large gatherings and close contact, which virologist Jean-Luc Murk of the Elisabeth-Tweesteden Ziekenhuis notes creates ideal conditions for viral spread. Murk explained that factors such as shouting and singing during celebrations, combined with alcohol consumption and sleep deprivation, weaken immune systems, making individuals more susceptible to infection. According to Omroep Brabant, Murk acknowledges that getting sick is “part of life,” but offers preventative measures such as frequent handwashing, avoiding touching the face with unwashed hands and limiting close contact like kissing.
The current flu wave was officially identified on February 11th, but health officials emphasize that the overlap between carnival and flu season is an annual occurrence. However, milder winters have extended the duration of the flu season in recent years, now lasting until April compared to February in the past, according to L1 Nieuws.
The RIVM defines a flu epidemic as occurring when at least 46 flu cases are registered per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks. The threshold for defining an epidemic varies annually based on numerous factors. The potential for increased infections following the carnival weekend is anticipated, mirroring the situation in 2020 when carnival celebrations preceded the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as noted by BNNVARA’s Joop platform.
