Incidence rates are falling in Luxembourg

The Luxembourg Health Directorate has published its weekly review of major acute respiratory infections covering the period from 26 January to 1 February 2026. The data indicate an overall decline in incidence, although the epidemiological burden remains significant.

The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza per week decreased from 748 to 629, which corresponds to a 16% decrease. This is the third consecutive week that the figures have been falling, but experts emphasise that the level of virus circulation is still high. Almost all detected cases — 99.5% — are influenza A. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection reminds that vaccination remains relevant, especially for people over 65, who are most at risk of serious complications. Vaccination is still considered the most reliable way to prevent seasonal flu.

A similar trend has been observed for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). During the reporting week, the number of confirmed cases decreased by 20%, from 127 to 101. Data accumulated since October 2025 show that 56% of all infections occur in children under the age of ten, confirming a consistent trend: RSV primarily affects younger age groups.

There has also been a moderate decline in COVID-19 cases. The number of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests decreased from 89 to 84 cases, equivalent to a 6% drop compared to the previous week. At the same time, wastewater monitoring revealed a slight increase in viral concentration, which may indicate continued hidden spread of the infection. The latest sequencing data show the dominance of the XFG variant, which accounts for 45.5% of cases, its subvariant XFG.3 with a share of 26.7%, and the NB.1.8.1 variant, which accounts for 18.2%.