By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Carlos III Health Institute in Madrid said this week the flu epidemic wave of the 2019-2020 season has officially begun, according to the disease transmissibility levels.

Image/NIAID

According to the latest weekly report of the Influenza Surveillance System in Spain, the flu season is characterized by a predominant circulation of the virus called A (H1N1) pdm09.

The year 2020 has begun in Spain with a global rate of incidence of influenza that is increasing, reaching 54.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants according to the latest data. Of the detections notified from the beginning of the 2019-2020 season so far, 55.5% are type A -80% of virus A (H1N1) pdm09- and 44.5% are type B.

The report also notes that, of the confirmed serious hospitalized cases of influenza reported so far, 91% are influenza A viruses. 44% have registered in the group over 64 years old, while 30% appear in the group of 45 to 64 years (30%).

According to Amparo Larrauri with the Carlos III Health Institute, “It is estimated that in the last two seasons of influenza, epidemics have produced between 500,000 and 700,000 cases of mild disease treated in primary care; between 35,000 and 52,000 hospitalizations with influenza, and between 2,500 and 3,000 admissions in ICU with laboratory-confirmed influenza.

” Using population models, it has been estimated that in the last two seasons, the flu may have been responsible for up to 15,000 deaths attributable to this disease.”

It is estimated that seasonal epidemics cause 3 to 5 million serious cases worldwide, and between 300,000 and 650,000 deaths related to the disease, most of which occur in people over 65 with special risk .