Respiratory Infections – Week 47, 2025

- Automatic translation

Situation in Iceland

Diagnoses of influenza have increased rapidly recently, and many cases are being detected at the moment. This year, the flu season is arriving 2–4 weeks earlier than in previous winters. It is not too late for individuals in risk groups to get vaccinated. Few cases of COVID-19 are being detected, and the RSV epidemic has not begun.

Image: Number of influenza diagnoses in recent weeks (red line) compared with previous winters (see the Chief Epidemiologist’s dashboard).

The number of diagnoses is based on laboratory results, with most samples coming from hospitals and fewer from primary care clinics.

Influenza

In week 47, 86 cases of influenza were diagnosed, all of them influenza type A, including 70 cases of type A(H3) and 16 cases of type A(pdm09). Those who were diagnosed were from all age groups: 34 individuals aged 65 and older, 26 aged 15–64, 10 aged 5–14, seven aged 1–4, and nine under one year old.

Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. Each winter, an influenza epidemic occurs between October and March. Influenza causes varying degrees of illness, but symptoms are often much more severe and longer-lasting than those of most common respiratory infections, with the exception of RSV infection, which can also cause significant illness, especially in the youngest and oldest age groups. When transmission becomes widespread during influenza epidemics, pressure on the healthcare system increases, and society experiences more absences from work and school.

There are two main types of influenza virus, A and B. The influenza virus changes somewhat from year to year, which is why people need annual vaccination if they want to prevent infection and illness. The annual influenza vaccine provides about 60–90% protection against infection, and vaccination also usually reduces the severity of illness if a person becomes infected. Vaccination offers particularly strong protection against severe illness, making it important for individuals in risk groups to receive the vaccine when appropriate. It is too early to determine how effective this year’s vaccine will be, but getting vaccinated is always better than not being vaccinated.

There is an antiviral medication available for influenza (Tamiflu), which may be used for individuals in risk groups who are at higher risk of serious illness than others. The medication must be prescribed by a doctor and needs to be given early in the course of illness, sometimes even before laboratory results are available.

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

Vaccinations

It is not too late to receive the annual vaccination, and the Chief Epidemiologist especially urges the following groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible:

• 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.

Appointments can be booked through My Pages on Heilsuvera or by calling your healthcare center.

Healthcare institutions and nursing homes

The Chief Epidemiologist also encourages healthcare institutions and nursing homes to implement their own measures regarding general infection prevention during the flu season to reduce the spread of infection within the institution, such as measures related to visits, the use of face masks, and hand hygiene.

Hospitalizations at Landspítali

In week 47, 21 individuals were hospitalized at Landspítali with influenza: 15 were 65 years and older, two were 15–64 years old, one was 5–14 years old, one was 3–4 years old, one was 1–2 years old, and one child was under one year old. See figure. Hospitalizations in the pediatric ward have been around 10 during the past two weeks, including one case requiring admission to the intensive care unit.

Image: Number and age of individuals hospitalized with influenza at Landspítali in week 47.

Other Respiratory Infections

RS Virus Infections

An RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) epidemic has not started in Iceland, and no RSV cases were diagnosed in week 47. This winter, children born on or after 1 May 2025 are eligible to receive antibodies against RSV (nirsevimab), as well as children aged 6–23 months who would otherwise have been offered palivizumab by the Children’s Hospital (Barnaspítali Hringsins) during the RSV season. Children born this winter, approximately until 31 March 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 stable in recent weeks. In week 47, ten individuals were diagnosed: six in the age group 65 years and older, three aged 15–64, and one under 5 years old. Two individuals were hospitalized with COVID-19, one aged 65 and older and one aged 15–64.

Other viruses

Among other respiratory viruses, rhinovirus (common cold) is currently the most commonly detected at the Department of Microbiology and Virology at Landspítali. Over the past month, the weekly number of rhinovirus detections has ranged from 20 to 40, and in week 47, 20 cases of rhinovirus were diagnosed.

Situation in Europe

• In EU/EEA countries, the number of patients seeking primary care for respiratory symptoms remains low, but influenza cases are increasing rapidly, which is unusually early compared with recent years. COVID-19 is stable or declining across all age groups. The spread of RSV is still low but slowly increasing. The impact on hospital admissions remains small.

• This year’s influenza season began three to four weeks earlier than in the past two years. The epidemiology of influenza varies between countries, but in all countries influenza A is dominant, with the A(H3N2) subtype being the main driver of the recent increase. Transmission is highest among children aged 5–14 years. Some countries are beginning to see increased hospitalizations across all age groups, especially among those aged 65 and older.

• A slight increase in RSV circulation is now occurring about a week earlier than last year. The rise is observed both in primary care and hospital data in several countries, mainly among children under five 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