Overview
- Italy’s health institute reports about 800,000 influenza cases in a week, with hospitals using corridor ‘boarding’ and hours‑long waits as admissions surge.
- In Germany, the flu season began earlier than recent years (week 48), with rising cases, influenza‑linked deaths reported in Saxony and Thuringia, and localized practice closures from staff illness.
- Surveillance shows Subclade K now prevalent in H3N2 detections, and the ECDC estimates current vaccines reduce severe outcomes by roughly 52–57% despite a partial mismatch.
- WHO and European authorities describe widespread, intense activity that remains within seasonal norms and shows no sign of a pandemic signal.
- Regional data highlight mounting pressure beyond Italy, including Vienna’s influenza hospitalizations surpassing last season’s peak and Bavarian wastewater indicating very high influenza A levels.