Skopje, 6 March 2025 (MIA) – The ninth week of 2025 recorded 2,569 new flu cases, down by 15.4% compared to the previous week. However, the number of flu cases has increased fourfold compared to the same period last year and by 38.4 percent compared to the last 14 seasons, according to the Public Health Institute.

Skopje records the most cases, 515, and a total of 1,465 people showing flu-like symptoms are aged 15 to 64, said Marija Andonovska, head of the Public Health Institute on Thursday.

550 children aged 5-14, 297 children aged 0-4 and 257 people over 65 were also reported as having flu-like symptoms, she added.

This week, said Andonovska, the towns of Debar, Kratovo and Sveti Nikole reported high virus activity.

 This flu season, a total of 19,944 cases have been recorded, which is an increase of 49% compared to the previous season. Also, four deaths were registered, including a woman over 65 with multiple chronic conditions.

The Public Health Institute head urged people to follow flu prevention measures, including at-home isolation of those diagnosed as having the flu.

MIA file photo