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Influenza and acute respiratory viral infections are expected to rise next week
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Due to warming, experts expect the incidence of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections to almost double next week, and only in April do they predict a decrease. This was reported by Andrey Aleksandrin, head of the Center for Influenza and Acute Respiratory Viral Infections of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
At very low temperatures, viruses die, so over the past two weeks we have seen a decrease in the incidence of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections. The optimal temperature for the life of viruses in the environment is about zero degrees. Therefore, the end of February may be marked by an increase in the number of cases of acute respiratory viral infections. In the current epidemic season, more than 90% of cases are acute respiratory viral infections, and much fewer people are sick with influenza compared to last year," said A. Alexandrin.
The specialist also added that the epidemic season will end by the 13th week of the year - the beginning of April. By that time, epidemiologists do not predict that the epidemic threshold will be crossed. At the same time, A. Alexandrin admits that in 1-2 regions it may be slightly exceeded, but not more than for a week.
In any case, the epidemiologist notes, there will be no flu or acute respiratory viral infection epidemic in Ukraine this year. During the 7th week of the year, 939 people were vaccinated against flu, which is 2.7% more than last week.
The total number of people vaccinated against influenza during the epidemic season is 395,568 or 0.87% of the population of Ukraine. In general, the epidemic situation for influenza and acute respiratory viral infections in Ukraine corresponds to the average annual level for the corresponding time of year.
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