The past two years, the flu has struck severely in the country around the New Year. But this year, it has taken until now, according to the Public Health Agency's statistics. Week 8 reported 27 percent more than the previous week. And the peak is likely not yet reached.
In the beginning of the pandemic, we had almost no flu at all in society, and the same applied to many other infectious diseases. Then they came back when we started living as usual again, but the flu peak has been around the New Year, says Magnus Gisslén, state epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency and professor of infectious diseases at Sahlgrenska Academy.
Before the pandemic, the flu was most intense in February and March. That the peaks occur so differently has no simple explanation
No, it's hard to know exactly why. We know that flu viruses spread more easily when it's dry and cold air and when we socialize more indoors. Maybe we're on our way back to how it was before the pandemic, but it's too early to say, says Magnus Gisslén.
A total of 2,319 confirmed cases of flu were reported nationally during week 8. Right now, it's flu A that's spreading the most, but flu B is also increasing. Those who suspect they are sick with the flu should avoid meeting others, primarily to reduce the risk of infecting risk groups.
If you yourself belong to a risk group, are elderly or have an underlying disease, it may be relevant with antiviral treatment. It needs to be initiated early in the disease process and requires a test to confirm that it's about flu viruses.
