Situation in Iceland

The number of confirmed influenza and RSV cases continues to decline. Few cases of COVID-19 are being reported. The number of detections of other respiratory viruses remained similar in Week 10 compared to the previous two weeks. No cases of whooping cough were reported in Week 10, but sporadic cases have been detected since the beginning of the year.

Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19

The number of influenza cases is gradually decreasing. A total of 26 cases were confirmed in Week 10, including 17 cases of influenza A(pdm09), five cases of influenza A(H3), and four cases of influenza B. Cases were detected across all age groups: two individuals were under five years old, three were in the 5–14 age group, nine were 15–64 years old, and 12 were 65 years or older.

Ten individuals were in hospital at Landspítali (National University Hospital) with influenza in Week 10, including nine aged 65 or older and one child aged 3–4 years. Additionally, nine individuals visited emergency departments with influenza, a number that has been declining in recent weeks.

The number of confirmed RSV infections continues to decrease. In Week 10, four cases were detected, including three individuals aged 65 or older and one child aged 1–2 years. No RSV patients were in hospital at Landspítali.
One individual aged 65 or older was diagnosed with COVID-19. No COVID-19 patients were in hospital at Landspítali.

Other Respiratory Infections

The number of detections of respiratory viruses other than influenza, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 remained similar in Week 10 compared to the previous two weeks. Rhinovirus (common cold) remains the most frequently detected virus, while other coronaviruses (excluding SARS-CoV-2) were the second most common in Week 10. A similar number of respiratory samples were analyzed in Week 10 compared to recent weeks (193 samples). The proportion of positive samples has fluctuated since late 2024 and was just over 41% in Week 10.

The number of Mycoplasma bacterial infections (as diagnosed by physicians, regardless of laboratory results) continues to decline overall, with two cases detected in Week 10. No cases of pertussis (whooping cough) were reported.

Situation in Europe

• Respiratory infections remain widespread in EU/EEA countries.

• Influenza outbreaks appear to have peaked in most countries, but case numbers continue to rise in some areas. The hospitalization rate, which has been high in recent weeks, now appears to be decreasing. The highest hospitalization rates are among individuals aged 65 and older.

• The situation regarding RSV infections varies between countries, but overall, case numbers are declining. RSV-related hospitalizations remain most common among children under five years old.

• COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection rates remain very low in most EU/EEA countries.

For further information, visit the website of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

General Preventive Measures

We remind the public to:

• Avoid close contact with individuals showing symptoms of infection.

• Stay home while symptomatic and until fully recovered, with at least 24 hours fever-free.

• Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

• Take extra precautions around vulnerable individuals if experiencing symptoms.

• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly.

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

• Consider wearing a face mask in crowded settings.

• The use of masks in healthcare settings during peak influenza season can help reduce transmission to vulnerable individuals.

The Chief Epidemiologist