Respiratory infections. Weeks 14 and 15 2024

Influenza remains consistently present, but instances of RSV and COVID-19 are minimal. Hospitalizations due to respiratory infections have varied from week to week but have overall remained steady over the past couple of months. The majority of individuals admitted with respiratory infections are diagnosed with influenza.

Recently, measles and mumps resurfaced in the country after a lull in diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no new cases have been reported beyond the initial detections, which comprised seven cases of mumps and one case of measles.

Notably, pertussis, or whooping cough, emerged in the capital area during weeks 14 and 15, marking the first occurrences since 2019. This week (week 16), three additional cases have been confirmed.

Some of the individuals diagnosed with pertussis have experienced symptoms since March, while others for a shorter duration, indicating the spread of the infection, at least in the capital area.

The Chief Epidemiologist