For the second week in a row there is a flu epidemic in the Netherlands. This is the case if at least 58 out of 100,000 people have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a dry cough. RIVM is monitoring the situation together with research institute Nivel and Erasmus MC. Together they run the National Influenza Center.
Every week, Nivel publishes figures on the number of people (per 100,000 inhabitants) with flu symptoms. The data on which this is based comes, among other things, from various general practitioners spread across the country. These 140 GPs keep track of how many patients have visited their practice with flu-like symptoms. Samples are taken from the throat and nose of some of these patients. The GPs send these samples to RIVM. In a laboratory, RIVM checks whether there is a flu virus in the sample.
Flu is caused by the flu virus (influenza virus). It is an infectious respiratory disease. People often call all kinds of diseases with complaints such as a cold, cough and fever “flu”, but these complaints can also occur after infection with other viruses.
Other respiratory viruses
In addition to flu, all kinds of other respiratory viruses are also circulating. Laboratories find, among other things, the human metapneumovirus, which can cause approximately the same complaints. The RS virus and the rhinovirus are also in full circulation. The corona virus is also still found, but not as often as before.
On Wednesday, research institute Nivel reported 66 residents with flu-like symptoms for every 100,000 people. The flu epidemic continues. However, this number fell compared to the week before Christmas.
By: ANP