Already more than 1.3 million Italians have been affected by influenza and similar syndromes, over 370 thousand in the last week alone. It is verified that a variety of infections are in flow, ranging from influenza to their numerous “cousins as well,” from Covid to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).”We are still in an initial phase”, but the cold has begun and “I believe that, as always, the peak will presumably arrive around the Christmas holidays”. In total, the 2024-25 flu with its cocktail of pathogens will put “about 15 million Italians” to bed. Virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco confirms his estimates to Adnkronos Salute, after the first bulletin from the RespiVirNet surveillance system released by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità.
Maximum circulation among children under 5, with almost 14 cases per 1000 assisted against an incidence of over 6 cases per thousand in the general population. the amount that the latest Australian strain of the H3N2 virus, which has caused the second-heaviest influenza outbreak of the last decade, and “which together with the old H1N1 has already been isolated several times in our country. Really pay attention to what will be an intense season – recommends the director of the School of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine of the State University of Milan – and welcome a certain greater availability to the flu vaccination, which we are registering. Protecting yourself is essential”, reminds the expert, especially for the most at-risk categories such as the elderly and frail.