Europe is facing a “triple pandemic” of flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus, threatening to push health systems to the limit, as a surge in flu cases is compounded by coronavirus and other respiratory diseases.
Spain and Italy are among the worst-hit countries, with hospitals struggling to cope with an influx of patients and the reimposition of coronavirus-era mask-wearing in health facilities in some areas.
A slight rise in cases has also been reported in Germany, where the public health agency said the flu wave officially began on December 11, and in France, where 10 of its 18 regions have officially entered the pandemic phase. In the UK, there has been a slight rise in flu cases and hospitalisations, with officials warning that the peak is yet to come.
In Spain, flu cases increased by 75% in the last week of 2023, according to data from the state-backed Carlos III Health Institute. At a time when reports of flu leading to severe pneumonia are multiplying.
Half of tests positive
Nearly half of all flu tests in Spain came back positive in the last week of December, compared with 27% in the previous seven days. The Carlos III Institute said Covid-19 cases had stabilised, with just 10% of tests coming back positive by the end of 2023, but the virus was causing a spike in hospital admissions, particularly among people aged over 80.
At the same time, children were being infected with respiratory syncytial virus, which can cause bronchiolitis and has led to a sharp rise in hospital admissions for infants under one year old.
The combination of flu, Covid and a respiratory virus has cast a shadow over a European festive season marked by coughs, colds and people leaving celebrations because they felt too unwell, according to a lengthy report in the Financial Times.
By Saturday, January 6, three Spanish regions – Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia – had made wearing masks compulsory in health facilities. Spain’s health minister, Monica García, convened a meeting of regional health chiefs on Monday to discuss expanding the mandate across the country.
Cases surge
García said on Friday that the rise in infection rates would “intensify” in the coming days. She called on people to be careful in large indoor gatherings and health facilities. “In short, we are appealing to common sense and asking for the same flexible spirit that people have shown during the pandemic,” she said.
The CSIF, a Spanish trade union whose members include health professionals, warned that some hospitals were reaching saturation point.
In addition to mandatory mask-wearing in health facilities, it called for special ventilation measures and urged people to be careful when deciding whether to see a doctor.
A similar trend has been recorded in Italy, where an estimated two million people were infected with influenza, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus in the last two weeks of 2023, according to the Italian National Institute of Health.
Pressure on hospitals and emergency rooms
The surge in cases has put pressure on hospitals and emergency rooms that are chronically short of beds and staff.
As a result, non-urgent surgeries have been delayed, with more than 1,000 patients in the Rome area waiting to be transferred from emergency rooms to departments, according to the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned last month that respiratory infections would be higher than usual this winter due to lower levels of immunity after anti-Covid measures in recent years led to an overall decline in such cases.
National governments have been asked to increase vaccination rates against Covid and flu and boost emergency department capacity, as well as encourage hand-washing and mask-wearing for the most vulnerable.
