Skopje, 15 February 2024 (MIA) — North Macedonia's public health centers have reported 10,537 cases of infections with flu-like symptoms this winter season, up 61.7% compared with the same time last year, public health authorities said in a press release.

According to the Public Health Institute's release, 1,875 cases of "flu and flu-like illnesses" were reported nationwide on Feb. 5–11, a rise of 13.4% compared to a week ago.

Compared with the same time last year, there are 2.7 times more cases of "flu and flu-like illnesses," the release says.

The institute's laboratory tested 56 samples as part its routine surveillance testing for influenza and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It found 12 cases of influenza and one case of SARS-CoV-2, it adds.

Out of the 1,875 newly infected people last week, 165 were people aged 65 and up; 1,139 were people aged 15-64; 424 were children aged 5-14; and 147 were children younger than four.

"The highest incidence was registered in children aged 5-14 years," the release says.

One 65-year old person's death was reported in connection with influenza. The person whose death was reported had been hospitalized at the University Clinic of Pulmonology and Allergology. "Over the course of this flu season, nine deaths associated with the flu have been registered," the release adds.

As part of the national Sentinel SARI surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Infections, hospitals reported a total of 55 SARI cases. Most of them were reported by the University Clinic for Pediatric Diseases.

"The highest number of SARI cases (n=18; 43.6%) were reported in children aged four or younger," the public health authorities say.

"The number of hospitalizations is at a higher level compared to the previous period," they note, adding that the latest figures show that North Macedonia has a "high intensity of activity of the influenza virus" at the moment.

Through Feb. 11, a total of 61,694 people have been vaccinated in the country against the flu, according to the PHI. mr/