Respiratory Infections – Week 46, 2025

- Automatic translation

Situation in Iceland

Influenza detections continue to increase, and in week 46, a total of 64 cases were diagnosed. The flu season has started earlier than in recent winters, but it is still too soon to predict when it will reach its peak.
Most samples tested come from hospitals, with fewer from primary care. However, proportionally slightly more influenza-positive samples came from primary care this week, which may reflect increased spread of influenza in the community.

Influenza

In week 46, 64 cases were diagnosed, including 16 cases of influenza A(pdm09) and 48 cases of influenza A(H3). Those who were diagnosed were in all age groups: 23 individuals were 65 years and older, 22 were 15–64 years old, ten were 5–14 years old, six were 1–4 years old, and three were under 1 year of age.

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

The annual influenza vaccination campaign is underway at primary healthcare centers. Appointments can be booked through My Pages on Heilsuvera or by calling your healthcare 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 46.
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) to receive monthly doses of palivizumab during the RSV season.
Children born this winter—approximately until March 31, 2026—will be able to receive RSV antibodies 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 steady in recent weeks. In week 46, six individuals were diagnosed: four in the 65-and-older age group, one aged 15–64, and one under 5 years old.

Other Respiratory Infections

Rhinovirus (the common cold) continues to be the most frequently detected respiratory virus at the Landspítali Department of Microbiology and Virology. Over the past month, the weekly number of rhinovirus detections has ranged from 20 to 40, but in week 46, 16 cases were detected.

Hospitalizations at Landspítali

In week 46, 17 individuals were hospitalized at Landspítali with influenza: eight were 65 years and older, three were 15–64 years old, two were 5–14 years old, one was 3–4 years old, and three were infants under 1 year of age. One individual under 1 year old was hospitalized with COVID-19.

Situation in Europe

• In EU/EEA countries, the number of patients seeking primary care for respiratory symptoms remains low. Influenza circulation is increasing and appears to be starting three to four weeks earlier than in the past two years. COVID-19 is stable or declining, and RSV circulation has increased in recent weeks but is still low. The impact on hospital admissions remains minimal at this time.

• The largest group being diagnosed with influenza consists of children aged 5–14 years. Most detected cases are influenza A, with A(H3) being the most common subtype.

• RSV infections are detected mainly in children under five years of age. The virus is spreading in a pattern similar to previous years.

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