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Few patients are currently hospitalized at Landspítali with or due to influenza. The influenza season started earlier than in recent winters, but it is not yet possible to determine whether the peak has been reached or how long the epidemic will continue (see Figure 1 and the dashboard).
There are few detected cases of COVID-19 and not many cases of RSV.

Figure 1: Number of influenza diagnoses in recent weeks (red line) compared with previous winters by week of the year (see the Chief Epidemiologist’s dashboard).

The Chief Epidemiologist’s dashboard on respiratory infections has been updated with data for weeks 51–52 of 2025 and week 1 of 2026 (15 December 2025–4 January 2026). The number of diagnoses is based on laboratory test results; most samples originate from hospitals, with fewer from primary care. Fewer samples were collected for testing of respiratory viruses over the Christmas and New Year period compared with the weeks preceding Christmas.

Influenza

In week 51, 78 cases of influenza were diagnosed, all influenza type A. Most cases (48) were subtype A(H3), 21 were subtype A(pdm09), and nine had an unknown subtype. Cases were identified in all age groups: 34 individuals were aged 65 years and older, 24 were aged 15–64 years, six were aged 5–14 years, nine were aged 1–4 years, and five were under one year of age.

In week 52, 43 cases of influenza were diagnosed, all influenza type A. Most cases (27) were subtype A(H3), 14 were subtype A(pdm09), and two had an unknown subtype. Cases were identified in all age groups: 22 individuals were aged 65 years and older, 14 were aged 15–64 years, two were aged 1–4 years, and five were under one year of age.

In week 1 (2026), 17 cases of influenza were diagnosed: one case of type B and 16 cases of type A. Of the type A cases, eight were subtype A(H3), six were subtype A(pdm09), and two had an unknown subtype. Cases were identified in all age groups: eight individuals were aged 65 years and older, five were aged 15–64 years, one was aged 5–14 years, one was aged 1–4 years, and two were under one year of age.

Influenza is a respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. Each winter, an influenza epidemic usually occurs between October and March. Influenza causes illness of varying severity, and in some cases the disease can be severe. When transmission is widespread, individuals in risk groups are more likely to develop severe illness, pressure on the healthcare system increases, and absenteeism from work and school rises in the community.

The two main types of influenza that infect humans are type A (which causes annual epidemics) and type B (which causes regular outbreaks, mainly among children). The influenza virus undergoes frequent changes, and therefore the composition of the influenza vaccine is reviewed annually to maintain its effectiveness. These viral changes can result in influenza seasons of varying severity, and vaccine effectiveness also varies from year to year. However, even in years when vaccine effectiveness is lower, vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalizations, and death, particularly among risk groups.

Antiviral medication against influenza (Tamiflu) is available for individuals at increased risk of severe disease. The medication is prescribed by a physician and must be administered early in the course of illness, even before laboratory test results are available.

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

Vaccinations

Among those for whom influenza vaccination is recommended are individuals over 60 years of age and children under 5 years of age. Currently, vaccination coverage is around 54% for older adults and approximately 22% for young children (see Figure 2). All vaccine doses ordered for the country this winter have either been distributed or used.

Figure 2: Influenza vaccination coverage by age group for the 2025–2026 season.

Hospitalizations at Landspítali

In week 51, 22 patients were hospitalized at Landspítali with influenza: 13 were aged 65 years and older, six were aged 15–64 years, one was aged 5–14 years, and two were aged 1–2 years.

In week 52, 12 patients were hospitalized with influenza: ten were aged 65 years and older, one was aged 15–64 years, and one was aged 1–2 years.

In week 1, two patients were hospitalized with influenza, both aged 65 years and older.

See Figure 3.

Figure 3: Number and age of patients hospitalized with influenza at Landspítali from week 42 of 2025 to week 1 of 2026.

Based on the onset of epidemics in previous years and considering the number of confirmed cases, the number of hospitalizations at Landspítali with or due to influenza during the first 15 weeks of the epidemic is much higher this year than in previous years for the same period (see Figure 4).

Figure 4: Cumulative number of hospitalizations with or due to influenza at Landspítali during the first 15 weeks of the epidemic (2025–2026 period in red).

Other Respiratory Infections

RS Virus Infections

In week 51, six cases of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) infection were diagnosed: four individuals aged 65 years and older, one child aged 3–4 years, and one child aged 1–2 years. One individual aged 65 years and older was hospitalized with RSV.

In week 52, five cases of RSV infection were diagnosed: four children aged 1–2 years and one child under 1 year. Two children aged 1–2 years were hospitalized with RSV.

In week 1, seven cases of RSV infection were diagnosed: two individuals aged 65 years and older, one aged 15–64 years, one child aged 3–4 years, and three children under 1 year. No patients were hospitalized with RSV.

In October, a vaccination campaign against RSV was launched for children born after the end of the last RSV season, i.e., from 1 May 2025, using the monoclonal antibody Beyfortus®. Participation has been good.

Children born between October and January account for, on average, over 60% of those infants in their first year who require hospitalization due to RSV. It is therefore important to ensure they receive vaccination as soon after birth as possible to reduce the risk of infection before the vaccine is administered, and this appears to have been successful (see Figure 5). Very few refusals have been recorded, but it is mandatory to register in the central vaccination database if a child is not vaccinated according to the general schedule of the Chief Epidemiologist.

Figure 5. Participation in RSV vaccinations has been very good, with the highest coverage among those vaccinated shortly after birth.

RSV circulation this winter
The spread of RSV has been much lower than at the same time in the past two years (see Figure 6). It is known that RSV epidemics vary greatly in severity from year to year, and the lower spread in other age groups cannot be attributed to infant vaccination. Relatively fewer infections have been observed among children in their first year of life than usual, but due to the small number of cases, it is too early to estimate the effectiveness of the vaccination. Infections among children in the target vaccination group remain very few, and these children were not vaccinated. More detailed information on the RSV epidemic this season and previous seasons is available on the Chief Epidemiologist’s dashboard.

Figure 6. RSV diagnoses at the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Landspítali, have been relatively few in recent weeks compared with the same period over the past two winters.

Figure 7. Age distribution of RSV diagnoses among children in their first year of life. The 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 periods show the age distribution across the entire RSV season.

Even though RSV activity has been low so far this winter, there are signs that the age distribution of diagnoses differs from what has been usual, raising hopes that the positive impact of RSV vaccination on the health of young children in Iceland will be demonstrable.

COVID-19

The number of COVID-19 cases has remained fairly stable this winter.

In week 51, 16 cases were diagnosed: nine individuals aged 65 years and older, four aged 15–64 years, and three under 5 years of age. Eight individuals were hospitalized with COVID-19, six aged 15–64 years and two aged 65 years and older.

In week 52, eight cases were diagnosed: four individuals aged 65 years and older, two aged 15–64 years, and two under 5 years of age. Four individuals were hospitalized, two aged 65 years and older and two aged 15–64 years.

In week 1, seven cases were diagnosed: four individuals aged 65 years and older, two aged 15–64 years, and one under 5 years of age. Three individuals were hospitalized, all aged 65 years and older.

Other viruses

Among other respiratory viruses, most detections at the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Landspítali, have been rhinoviruses (common cold). Over the past month, the weekly number of rhinovirus detections has ranged from 10 to 30: 29 cases were diagnosed in week 51, 16 in week 52, and 14 in week 1.

In recent weeks, detections of human metapneumovirus have increased: seven cases were diagnosed in week 51, nine in week 52, and 16 in week 1.

Situation in Europe

• In EU/EEA countries, the number of patients seeking primary care for respiratory symptoms is above the epidemic threshold in about half of the countries, indicating substantial circulation of respiratory infections at present.

• Influenza activity continues to increase, with most countries reporting widespread circulation. Influenza A is dominant in all countries, with subtype A(H3N2) being the most common. The highest spread is observed among children aged 5–14 years. An increase in hospitalizations is seen in some countries across all age groups, but mainly among those aged 65 years and older.

• There is a slight increase in RSV circulation, but incidence remains lower than in the same period over the past four winters. Increases in RSV-related hospitalizations are observed in some countries, primarily among children under five years of age.

• COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) incidence is decreasing across all age groups, and hospitalizations remain low.

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