A new wave of influenza was spreading across parts of Europe, with health authorities reporting a growing number of infections and deaths, particularly in southern and southeastern European countries.
The seasonal flu virus appears every year, but the outbreak described in reports from the period was causing concern because the number of cases was increasing rapidly in several countries, with health officials warning that the virus could continue moving toward northern Europe.
Influenza Cases Rise in Europe
According to a weekly influenza report from Germany’s Robert Koch Institute, the flu season was expected to intensify, with 1,263 cases reported at that point.
More than 10 people had already died from influenza in Germany, according to the German Press Agency, while several southern European countries were experiencing a much larger outbreak.
Croatia had reported more than 5,000 influenza cases, with 15 people having died and another 17 patients reportedly fighting for their lives, according to reports at the time.
Greece also recorded four influenza-related deaths in just one week, while 35 patients were being treated in intensive care units because of complications linked to the illness.
Flu Deaths Reported Across Several Countries
Two influenza-related deaths were reported in each of Serbia, North Macedonia and Slovenia, while North Macedonia saw the number of reported flu cases rise by 43 percent within one week.
In Slovenia, several clinics opened their doors to provide residents with influenza vaccinations as authorities sought to reduce the risk of further infections and encourage people to take precautions during the flu season.
Romania had reported 14 influenza-related deaths since the beginning of October, with most of those who died having underlying health conditions, while older people were also among the groups most affected.
The number of registered influenza patients in Romania reached 1,155 during the previous week, significantly higher than the figure recorded during the same period a year earlier.
Influenza Cases Surge in Hungary
Hungary had not reported any influenza-related deaths at the time, but the number of infections was rising quickly, particularly in the capital, Budapest.
The Hungarian health authorities reported 19,300 influenza cases between January 7 and January 13, representing a 75 percent increase compared with the previous week.
The figures from several European countries showed that influenza activity was increasing across the region, with older people and those with existing health conditions facing a higher risk of serious complications.
