The flu seemed to be spreading a little faster through the Netherlands recently, but research institute Nivel saw a clear decrease last week in the number of people who report flu-like symptoms to the GP. For every 100,000 inhabitants, 41 visited the GP with symptoms that may indicate flu.
This means that no effect of the carnival days appears to be visible in these figures for the time being. Carnival was celebrated last weekend and early last week. If many people infected each other with the flu or another respiratory virus, this could possibly be seen this week in the numbers reported by Nivel.
Lots of flu virus
Since December we are officially in a flu epidemic in the Netherlands. Whether such an epidemic is ongoing is partly determined on the basis of the so-called ‘epidemiological limit’. If for a period of time more than 58 out of 100,000 people per week report to their GP with complaints that suggest flu, we speak of a flu epidemic. That has not been the case for several weeks now. But because the samples taken from patients with flu-like symptoms still contain a “remarkable amount” of the flu virus (influenza virus), the epidemic is not yet over, according to Nivel.
Other respiratory viruses
People who feel flu-like may also be carrying another respiratory virus. This is how the RS virus, the rhinovirus and of course the corona virus also go around. The number of confirmed infections with the latter virus has increased in recent weeks. (AP)
