Again few flu cases, but epidemic is not over yet

According to knowledge institute Nivel, 38 out of 100,000 people with flu-like symptoms visited their GP last week. That is slightly more than last week’s 36 and the 34 of a week earlier.

It is the third week in a row that this number remains below the so-called epidemic limit of 58 in 100,000 patients. The epidemic could be over if the numbers stay below that mark for two consecutive weeks.

But the researchers also look at other factors, such as information from hospitals and the percentage of patients who carry a flu virus. A flu virus (influenza virus) was found in more than half of the samples taken from patients with flu-like symptoms. Other viruses can also cause flu-like symptoms, such as the RS virus and the rhinovirus.