Overview
- Italy’s health institute reports roughly 800,000 influenza cases in a week as emergency departments face hours-long waits and corridor care from north to south.
- Germany’s RKI estimates about five million acute respiratory illnesses in early January, with regional reports confirming influenza-linked deaths in Saxony and Thuringia.
- New data from Lower Saxony show 36% of tested respiratory samples positive for influenza in week two, 1,124 lab-confirmed cases that week, and five lab-confirmed flu deaths since late June.
- Surveillance finds H3N2 Subclade K now dominant in many samples, with RKI and ISS confirming its prevalence while WHO notes activity remains within seasonal norms without a pandemic signal.
- Officials urge vaccination for at‑risk groups, citing ECDC estimates of roughly 52–57% effectiveness against H3N2, as some clinics report staff shortages and isolated practice closures.