Photo: CC0 Pete Linforth via Pixabay
In week 40 (October 2 – 8), the national average number of virus particles in the virus increased sewage water by 17% compared to the previous week.
Last week, the share of participants with COVID-19-like complaints increased Infection radar (externe link)light, compared to the week before (from 4.1% to 4.5%). The daily average number of hospital admissions of patients with SARS-CoV-2 increased by 18%.
The new respiratory season started in week 40. In the period preceding the new respiratory season, we saw an increasing trend in the number of virus particles in sewage water, the proportion of Infection Radar participants with COVID-19-like complaints or a positive test result, and the number of hospital admissions. Last week, an average of 60 patients with SARS-CoV-2 were admitted to hospital per day. In the same period last year, this number was significantly higher at 147 patients per day. Then we were at the peak of an upliftment around this period. We cannot now predict when and how high the peak will be this season. This depends on several factors, such as the defense in the Dutch population against the variants that are circulating.
In contrast to other agents of respiratory infections, such as influenza virus and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), SARS-CoV-2 has not yet shown a clear seasonal trend. For SARS-CoV-2, several peaks have been visible throughout the year in recent years, while for pathogens such as influenza and RSV one increase is normally seen in the winter months.
Virus variants
Many different XBB variants are found both in sewage water and in germ surveillance. The EG.5, an . BA.2.86, a BA.2 subvariant that has been reported in several places around the world in recent weeks, is being seen in sewage water at more and more locations and is also found in germ surveillance. This variant shows many genetic differences compared to the other variants currently circulating and is therefore closely monitored worldwide. There are currently no indications that these (sub)variants are more pathogenic than the previous omikron variants.
2023-10-11 15:15:34
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