Respiratory Infections – Week 45, 2025

- Automatic translation

Situation in Iceland

Influenza diagnoses have increased, and in week 45, 52 cases of influenza were detected. The flu is appearing earlier than in recent winters, and Landspitali University Hospital has had to postpone a number of surgeries due to an outbreak at the hospital.

As before, the vast majority of samples for testing come from hospitals, and fewer from primary healthcare centers.

Influenza

In week 45, 52 cases were diagnosed: 19 with influenza type A (pdm09) and 33 with type A (H3). Those who tested positive were from all age groups: 16 individuals were 65 years and older, 18 were 15–64 years old, six were 5–14 years old, and 12 were under 5 years old.

Further information about influenza can be found on the Directorate of Health’s website.

The annual influenza vaccination campaign has begun at health centers. Appointments can be booked through “My Pages” on Heilsuvera or by calling your local health center.

The Chief Epidemiologist recommends that the following groups be given priority for influenza vaccination and strongly encourages them to accept vaccination:

• All individuals aged 60 years and older.

• Children under 5 years of age who are at least 6 months old at the time of vaccination.

• All children and adults with chronic heart, lung, kidney, or liver diseases, diabetes, obesity, malignant diseases, or other immunosuppressive conditions.

• Pregnant women.

• Healthcare workers who care for individuals in the above-mentioned risk groups.

• People at occupational risk due to possible co-infection with seasonal influenza and avian influenza.

RS Virus Infections

An RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) outbreak has not started in Iceland, and no RSV cases were detected in week 45.
The monoclonal antibody against RSV (nirsevimab) for the youngest children has been distributed to healthcare institutions. This winter, the antibody will be offered to children born on May 1, 2025 or later, as well as to children aged 6–23 months who would otherwise have been invited by the Children’s Hospital (Barnaspítali Hringsins) for monthly palivizumab treatments during the RSV season.
Children born this winter—approximately until March 31, 2026—will be able to receive the RSV antibody shortly after birth.

Further information on RSV infections and RSV immunization can be found on the website of the Directorate of Health.

COVID-19

The number of COVID-19 cases has remained fairly stable in recent weeks but is declining. In week 45, four individuals were diagnosed: one in the 65-and-older age group, two aged 15–64, and one under 5 years old.

Other Respiratory Infections

Most detections among other respiratory viruses at the Landspítali Department of Microbiology and Virology continue to be rhinovirus (common cold). Over the past month, the weekly number of rhinovirus diagnoses has ranged from 20 to 40, and 23 cases were detected in week 45.

Hospitalizations at Landspítali

In week 45, 19 individuals were hospitalized at Landspítali with influenza: twelve were 65 years and older, six were 15–64 years old, and one was under 1 year old. One individual in the 65-and-older age group was hospitalized with COVID-19.

Situation in Europe

• In EU/EEA countries, the number of patients seeking primary care for respiratory symptoms remains low. However, most countries report an increase, as expected at this time of year. So far, a similar increase has not been observed among patients hospitalized with respiratory infections.

• The circulation of influenza and RSV infections is still low but beginning to increase. The spread of COVID-19 remains widespread but continues to decline, similar to the trend seen at the same time last year.

• The increase in RSV infections is seen mainly in children under five years old, while influenza circulation appears primarily in children under 15 years old.

Further information is available on the website of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The Chief Epidemiologist reminds people to:

• Accept the influenza vaccination if you belong to a priority or risk group.

• Accept the RSV monoclonal antibody for those infants where it is appropriate.

• Stay at home while experiencing symptoms and until you are well on the way to recovery and fever-free for 24 hours.

• Take special care around vulnerable individuals if you have symptoms of infection.

• Minimize contact with others who show symptoms of infection.

• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.

• Clean shared surfaces and ventilate shared spaces as much as possible.

• Consider wearing a face mask depending on the situation.

The Chief Epidemiologist