In the days of maximum attention for the feared spread of the new Omicron variant, flu gallops in the country, as never happened in recent years: as of November 21, a million Italians have already finished in bed, especially children between 0 and 4 years.
The InfluNet Surveillance Network of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, in the week between 15 and 21 November, detected an incidence of flu-like syndromes of 4.8 cases per thousand, equal to approximately 283 thousand new cases estimated in Italy.
To run for cover, many regions are trying to speed up the invitation to get vaccinated, with particular attention to the most fragile categories.
IN THE ISLAND - In Sardinia, according to a survey by the Gimbe Foundation, the Region has been awarded 454,765 doses of the flu vaccine for coverage of the target population, defined at 582,702 by the Ministry of Health, equal to 78%. The number of residual doses available to the non-at-risk population is 17,739.
In the meantime, however, Sardinia is also among the six Italian regions which, as of November 25, according to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, has not yet activated the InfluNet surveillance.
For the island, the peripheral laboratory of the Influnet network and recognized by the ISS for the virological surveillance of seasonal influenza is that of the Aou of Sassari.
ESTIMATES - "We are witnessing a flu season that started in a very lively way, with fast growth, as evidenced by the steep uphill curve of cases, even higher than two years ago these days", explains virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco with reference to national data. "Even the peak of infections - continues Pregliasco - which normally occurs between January and February, could be anticipated this year". The estimate is that "this year there will be 4-6 million cases between parainfluenza syndromes and real flu", adds the expert.
THE DATA - The data from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità confirm the trends inaugurated in recent weeks. First, the greater impact of influenza compared to previous seasons, with double incidence rates compared to the 2019-2020 season (the last in which a seasonal epidemic of flu-like syndromes was observed), when, in the same week of year, the incidence was 2.15.
Then the greater spread of the infection in children, "who are also those who frequent community places without a mask", points out Pregliasco. In detail, in the age group between 0 and 4 years there was an incidence equal to 21.25 cases per thousand in that 5-14 years it goes to 5.49 per thousand, in the age group 15-64 to 4, 04 cases per thousand and in the over-65s to 2.33 cases per thousand.
(Unioneonline / vl)