Overview
- Spain remains in a medium‑intensity influenza epidemic, with ISCIII reporting a first modest weekly decline in primary‑care flu incidence for Dec 15–21, still above the epidemic threshold.
- Hospital impact remains high and largely stable, with roughly 9.2–9.3 influenza hospitalizations per 100,000 and severity indicators of about 19.9% pneumonia, 4.5% ICU admission and 3.9% in‑hospital mortality among admitted patients.
- Age patterns are shifting as cases fall in children and adolescents but rise in older adults, particularly those 60–79 and 80+, according to the latest SiVIRA data.
- Emergency departments and inpatient services report growing pressure, with regional updates and emergency medicine specialists warning of crowded units and limited bed availability.
- Experts point to the more transmissible ‘variant K’ and holiday gatherings as likely drivers and expect a peak around the Christmas period, while MoMo estimates show excess all‑cause deaths in week 51.