Respiratory Illnesses: COVID-19 Cases Decline as Flu and RSV Rise in Late November 2025
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A new report from the Health Department indicates a shifting landscape in respiratory infections, with a decrease in COVID-19 cases offset by significant increases in influenza and a slight rise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections during the week of November 24 to 30, 2025. The findings, communicated by the Ministry of Health and Social Security, offer a crucial snapshot of the ongoing challenges to public health as winter approaches.
COVID-19 Trends Show Continued Decline
The number of positive SARS-CoV-2 cases decreased by 23%, falling from 66 to 51 cases during week 48. While this represents a positive trend, health officials are closely monitoring viral concentration levels detected in wastewater, which have increased slightly. “[The] viral concentration detected in wastewater increased slightly,” a senior official stated.
The latest sequencing data reveals that the XFG variant continues to be dominant, accounting for 54.2% of cases, with its subvariant XFG.3 representing 29.1% of infections. You can find more information on sequencing data here: https://lns.lu/publications/.
Influenza Cases Surge Nearly 120%
In stark contrast to the COVID-19 trend, influenza cases have experienced a substantial surge. Reported cases rose from 79 to 173, marking a 119% increase compared to the previous week. The vast majority of identified influenza strains were influenza A, comprising 98% of typed results, with only 2% identified as influenza B.
RSV Cases See Modest Increase, Primarily Affecting Young Children
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections saw a more modest increase of 4%, with 93 confirmed cases reported compared to 89 the previous week. Notably, the data indicates that RSV is disproportionately impacting younger populations, with 75% of infections since October 2025 occurring in children under the age of nine. This suggests a heightened vulnerability within this age group. More data on respiratory diseases can be found here: https://www.microbs.lu/dashboards/respiratory-diseases/sars-cov-2.
The evolving dynamics of these respiratory illnesses underscore the importance of continued vigilance and preventative measures as the winter season progresses.
