GPs in Cyprus have seen more patients with colds, sore throats and coughs in recent days, as flu vaccinations have begun following delays in vaccine deliveries.
Colds, sore throats and coughs, along with pharyngitis, bronchitis and rhinitis, have been among the most common complaints since last week. Doctors say the season of respiratory infections is gradually beginning.
Flu activity remains low for now. In Cyprus, seasonal flu usually picks up later, from mid-December onwards. Activity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also low.
Flu vaccinations
The vaccines, expected in previous weeks, have now been delivered and distributed. GPs have placed their orders and begun vaccinating, and private pharmacists have also received supplies. The delivery delays had affected the initial planning of this year’s campaign.
People can now get vaccinated before flu is expected to start circulating more widely. That timing matters because immune protection usually takes about two weeks to develop after vaccination, and doctors are stressing the need to get vaccinated early.
Europe
Overall respiratory infection activity in the European Union and the European Economic Area remains low, according to the latest weekly update from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Covid-19 is, however, on the rise in several countries, and the picture varies considerably from country to country.
According to an analysis of data from the European surveillance system ERVISS, Covid-19 test positivity reached 26.2 per cent in Lithuania and 16.5 per cent in France, weekly rises of 7.1 and 7.7 percentage points respectively. In Spain, by contrast, positivity fell to 10.3 per cent. It was 6.7 per cent in the Netherlands and 3.9 per cent in Denmark.
The rates refer to positive samples within epidemiological surveillance, not the population as a whole. Differences in the number of tests and in each country’s recording system also need to be taken into account.
Flu activity remains limited, with test positivity at 0.9 per cent in Lithuania, 2.6 per cent in France and 2.8 per cent in Spain. RSV circulation is also low, with no widespread rise so far across Europe.
