European countries, especially Spain and Italy, are experiencing an increase in the number of people suffering from respiratory diseases.
Many news agencies have reported a shortage of hospital beds and deteriorating sports facilities.
Influenza infections across the continent are currently the greatest concern. The disease’s effect on healthcare is compounded by a growing number of coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases.
Other parts of the continent, including Germany and the United Kingdom, have observed a spike in cases of the three diseases — COVID, RSV and flu — in recent weeks.
Many countries in Central and Eastern Europe also reported an increase in respiratory illnesses in the final weeks of 2023.
“Nearly 10,000 COVID-19 deaths were reported to WHO in December, most commonly in Europe and the U. S. “There was a 42% increase in hospitalizations and a 62% increase in [intensive care unit] admissions compared to November,” said Tedros. Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the ECDC, said rates of influenza-like respiratory illness in the community was still increasing in most European countries. “Following relatively low respiratory illness activity over the summer period, consultation rates increased in primary care settings from September,” it said in a press release in December.
The rates of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases presenting to secondary care were at a level comparable to the same time last year and are now notably increasing in some countries.
Among those examined, the percentage of people with flu rose from 19% in mid-December to nearly 25% by the end of the year.
Ten countries in Europe, Italy and Spain combined, reported seasonal influenza activity above 10% positive control rates in the number one sentinel care.
But the ECDC said the figures could be affected during the Christmas season and not reveal the real picture; He noted that fewer people were tested during the holiday season.
The sharp increase in spread could also be attributed to massive gatherings during Christmas and other festive events, common in Spain. The ECDC said both influenza types A and B had been detected.
Italy recorded two flu-related deaths in early January in the northeastern city of Vicenza. Doctors suspect the deaths were due to an outbreak of swine flu, also known as H1N1 flu.
Three other patients are hospitalized in intensive care due to complications of the disease, such as interstitial pneumonia. Vicenza’s local health government has asked the population to get vaccinated against swine flu.
Swine flu is just the latest addition to existing pressures on Italy’s public health system. Italy’s National Institute of Health has estimated that around 2 million people have contracted COVID, RSV, or flu in the last two weeks of 2023.
In January, ambulances were seen queuing outside hospitals in Rome. Health centers in cities such as Milan and Turin were overcrowded and patients were waiting for a bed.
Spain’s Minister of Health, Mónica García, has made it mandatory to wear a mask in gyms across the country.
“[We have to] protect the most vulnerable people,” Garcia told reporters. “It’s just common sense.”
Some Spanish hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of new patients.
The government has said restrictions may be removed if infection rates fall consistently for two weeks. But it’s worth noting that Spain was among the last countries to drop face mask regulations during the COVID pandemic.
The data for this article were gathered and visualized by Eva Höppner and Hermann Wirt of DW Data.
Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany