The number of people in the Netherlands who have a respiratory infection is increasing. More and more people have symptoms. A significant percentage of these people have the influenza (flu) virus. The annual flu epidemic seems to be starting. Besides the influenza virus, other viruses can also cause respiratory infections.
More people with respiratory symptoms
The percentage of Infection Radar survey participants who had respiratory symptoms rose sharply in the past week. Last week, the number of people contacting the GP with flu-like symptoms rose to 51 in 100,000 inhabitants of the Netherlands. This is above the threshold for increased flu activity in GP practices, which is 46 in 100,000 inhabitants. In the week before that, it had risen to 40 in 100,000 inhabitants.
Rise in influenza infections
Experts from RIVM, Erasmus MC and Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel) are seeing an increase in infections involving the influenza (flu) virus. People participating in the Infection Radar survey who sent in a nose and throat sample if they had respiratory symptoms were more likely to have flu. The flu virus was found in 13% of the samples last week, compared to 12% in the week before that.
The flu virus was also increasingly found in the samples taken by GPs at the Nivel monitoring stations from some patients who had respiratory symptoms: 37% of samples last week contained the flu virus. Laboratories in the Netherlands are also reporting an increase in the percentage of samples containing the flu virus, rising from 18% to 22% in the past week.
Other viruses also cause symptoms
Besides the flu virus, there are also viruses that can cause symptoms that affect the respiratory system, such as nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing and sore throat. Fever may sometimes also occur. The main viruses currently causing respiratory infections are seasonal coronaviruses, human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Flu often causes a more serious course of illness. It often starts rapidly and may be accompanied by cold chills, runny nose, headache, muscle pain and high fever – as high as 39°C or above. The fever usually lasts for 3 to 5 days. Recovery could take several weeks.
What to do if you have symptoms?
If you develop symptoms that could indicate a respiratory infection, follow these recommendations. By doing so, you can help prevent respiratory viruses from spreading, and protect people in vulnerable health.
- Stay home if you are ill.
- If your symptoms are mild, talk to your employer about whether you can work from home.
- Avoid contact with people who could become seriously ill from a respiratory infection. If you cannot avoid contact (for example because you are providing informal care), wear a face mask that covers the mouth and nose.
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow. Wash your hands often and thoroughly, and use soap and water.
- Ensure a good flow of fresh air in indoor spaces.
Even if you do not have symptoms, it is important to cough and sneeze into your elbow and regularly wash your hands with soap and water.