Respiratory Infections – Week 48, 2025

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Individuals in risk groups are encouraged to receive vaccination, even if they have already fallen ill with influenza (suspected or confirmed) this autumn/winter. Very few cases of COVID-19 and RSV are being detected.

The Chief Epidemiologist’s dashboard on respiratory infections has been updated with data for week 48 (24–30 November 2025). The number of diagnoses is based on laboratory results, with most samples coming from hospitals and fewer from primary healthcare clinics.

Influenza

In week 48, 80 cases of influenza were diagnosed, all of influenza type A — most of them, 63, were A(H3), and 17 were A(pdm09). Cases occurred across all age groups: 31 individuals were 65 years and older, 27 were 15–64 years old, ten were 5–14 years old, eight were 1–4 years old, and four were under one year of age.

Influenza is a respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. Each winter, an influenza epidemic usually occurs during the period from October to March. Influenza causes varying degrees of illness in individuals, and the illness can be severe. When infections are widespread, people in risk groups are at greater risk of developing serious complications, pressure on the healthcare system increases, and the community experiences more absences from work and school.

Two main strains of influenza can infect humans: type A (which causes annual epidemics) and type B (which causes regular outbreaks, mainly in children). The influenza virus changes almost continuously, so the composition of the influenza vaccine is reviewed each year to maintain its effectiveness. These changes in the virus can lead to influenza seasons of varying severity, and vaccine effectiveness also varies from year to year. Even in years when vaccine effectiveness is lower, it still reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalizations, and death, especially among risk groups.

An antiviral drug for influenza (Tamiflu) is available for individuals at higher risk of severe illness. The medication is prescribed by a physician and must be given early in the course of illness, even before laboratory results are available.

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

Vaccinations

Annual vaccination is still available, and the Chief Epidemiologist especially encourages the following groups to receive the vaccine 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 encourages healthcare institutions and nursing homes to take their own measures regarding general infection prevention during flu season to reduce transmission within the institution, such as concerning visits, the use of face masks, and hand hygiene.

Hospitalizations at Landspítali

In week 48, 21 individuals were hospitalized at Landspítali with influenza: 11 were 65 years and older, five were 15–64 years old, two were 5–14 years old, one was 3–4 years old, one was 1–2 years old, and one child was under one year of age. See figure.

Figure: Number and age of individuals with influenza admitted to Landspítali in weeks 39–48 of 2025.

Other Respiratory Infections

RS Virus Infections

An RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) outbreak has not started in Iceland, but in week 48 two cases were diagnosed, both in individuals over 65 years of age.

This winter, children born on 1 May 2025 or later are eligible to receive RSV antibodies (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, roughly 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 48, seven individuals were diagnosed: one in the 65-and-older age group, five aged 15–64, and one under 5 years old. Two individuals were hospitalized at Landspítali with COVID-19, both aged 15–64.

Other viruses

Of other respiratory viruses besides those mentioned above, rhinovirus (common cold) is detected most frequently 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 48, 19 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 cases are stable or declining across all age groups. RSV circulation is still low but slowly increasing. The impact on hospitalizations 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 by far the most common, 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, but mainly 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 visible in data from both primary care and hospitals in several countries, mainly among children under five years of age.

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