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Weekly review - Week 9 from 26 February to 3 March 2024
The weekly retrospective gives a summary of trends in acute respiratory infections, including COVID-19, the flu (influenza virus) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Trends of the week:
COVID-19: Stabilisation of the number of cases and the positivity rate for COVID-19 at a low level.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): Stabilisation of the number of RSV cases at a low level.
Influenza: Decrease in the number of influenza cases.
COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2
From 26 February to 3 March 2024 (week 9), the number of people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 increased to 42 cases, compared to 41 cases the previous week (+2%).
The positivity rate fell to 2.56% compared to 2.63% the previous week. The viral concentration detected in wastewater is decreasing. [1]
These indicators suggest that the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 has stabilised.
The latest sequencing data available show a preponderance of the JN.1 variant (86.7%) followed by the BA.2.86 variant (11.1%). It should be noted that variant JN.1, a descendant of variant BA.2.86, has predominated since week 47 of 2023. [2]
Influenza
For the week of 26 February to 3 March 2024 (week 9), the number of influenza cases reported by laboratories decreased to 206 cases from 312 cases in the previous week, a decrease of 34% compared to the previous week.
These data largely tally with the LNS sentinel surveillance data, which indicate a drop in the circulation of the influenza virus [2].
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
For the week of 26 February to 3 March 2024 (week 9), the number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-positive individuals reported by laboratories dropped to 11 cases, compared with 13 the previous week, presenting an decrease of 15%. The peak of the epidemic this season was reached in week 50, from 11 to 17 December 2023.
Press release by the Ministry of Health and Social Security