The flu virus is infecting more and more people in the Netherlands. Last week, 103 out of 100,000 residents went to their GP with flu-like symptoms, according to research institute Nivel. A week earlier it was still 66 people for every 100,000. The flu epidemic is of “moderate intensity,” according to Nivel.
According to Nivel’s weekly report, there has been “a notable increase in seniors aged 65 and over visiting their GP with flu-like symptoms last week.” The actual number of people with the flu is unknown. That number is invariably higher than reported because many people fall ill at home without the GP being involved.
The current flu epidemic started in December, before Christmas. A flu virus was actually found in nearly half of the samples taken from patients. The remaining patients were carriers of other viruses.
Nivel speaks of a “moderate intensity” flu epidemic. This is the case if between 103 and 172 people per 100,000 Dutch people go to the general practitioner with flu symptoms every week.
There is a flu epidemic when 58 out of 100,000 people go to their GP with flu-like symptoms for two weeks. At least 10 percent of those people must actually be carrying the flu virus.
The flu circulates more than during the previous epidemic
During the corona pandemic, the flu was barely circulating in the Netherlands. Influenza viruses also had little chance of spreading due to the corona measures.
After the measures were released, another flu epidemic promptly broke out in March 2022. It had no major peaks and ended after thirteen weeks, which is a normal duration.
The flu is now circulating more than during the previous epidemic and is therefore at its highest level since the short-lived flu wave of 2020. It was over after a few weeks, probably under the influence of the corona measures introduced at the time.
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