The number of flu cases has risen sharply over the past week and is now above the epidemic limit, reports the Netherlands Institute for Health Care Research (NIVEL). The flu epidemic, which usually occurs at this time of the year, has not yet arrived. An epidemic only occurs if the numbers exceed the epidemic limit for two consecutive weeks.
According to NIVEL, there were 72 flu cases per 100,000 inhabitants last week. That is 14 cases more than the epidemic limit. NIVEL registers a case when someone reports to the doctor with flu symptoms and subsequently a flu virus is found on samples from the nose and throat.
NIVEL has previously suggested that the relatively low number of registered cases may be related to the relatively mild weather, or to an effective operation of the flu shot. This year, the vaccines offer protection against four different variants of the influenza virus. That used to be three. Another possible explanation for the absence of an epidemic is that the criteria for being able to speak of an epidemic have become stricter. Before the 2019-2020 flu season, NIVEL applied a lower epidemic limit of 51 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Last week there were 52 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
