Respiratory infections in Luxembourg have again shown an increase
Hans Isaacson, Unsplash
The Luxembourg Directorate of Health has published a weekly overview of the spread of acute respiratory infections, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19.
During the week of 20-26 January 2025, there was a significant increase in infections nationwide, especially among children, adolescents and the elderly.
The number of reported cases of influenza increased by 48 per cent, rising from 1,643 to 2,436. As in neighbouring countries, infections this season are particularly common in children and adolescents.
Analysis of the samples showed that 67% of cases were influenza A viruses and 33% were influenza B viruses. Among influenza A viruses, 48.5% were of the A(H1)pdm9 subtype and 51.5% were of the A(H3) subtype.
To protect against flu, it is recommended to wash your hands regularly, avoid close contact, ventilate rooms, use tissues when coughing and sneezing, and stay home when sick.
The number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections increased from 205 to 252 cases during the week. The infections mainly affected young children and elderly people over 80 years of age.
The number of COVID-19 cases increased by 7%, rising from 72 to 77 cases. However, wastewater monitoring showed a decrease in viral load, which may indicate a stabilisation of the situation.
A recent analysis of genetic variants revealed a predominance of two JN.1 sub-variants, XEC (46.5%) and KP.3 (40.2%).
The epidemiological situation in Luxembourg remains tense. An upsurge in influenza and RSV cases requires increased caution, especially among vulnerable populations. Despite the increase in COVID-19, the viral load in wastewater is decreasing, which may be a positive signal.
