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Respiratory infections are on the rise in Lombardy, Italy, according to the latest surveillance network bulletin, with a notable increase observed between January 5th and 11th compared to the previous week. This comes amid ongoing monitoring of various respiratory illnesses, including influenza, COVID-19, and other viral infections.
The incidence rate has risen from 10.41 cases per 1,000 inhabitants (3,477 acute respiratory infection cases) to 10.73 cases per 1,000 inhabitants (4,809 cases),representing approximately a 38% increase from the week of December 29th to January 4th. In the Bergamo area, approximately 12,000 infections are now reported weekly, a 3.4% increase from the previous week’s 11,600 cases.
Data is collected through general practitioners and pediatricians participating in the RespiVirnet epidemiological surveillance network. As October, the province of Bergamo has surpassed 100,000 cases of respiratory infections, including influenza, parainfluenza, COVID-19, common colds, and bronchiolitis. Recent data from January 5th to 11th indicates the following case distribution in Lombardy: 354 cases (13.97% incidence per 1,000 inhabitants) in the 0-4 age group, 316 cases (5.06%) in the 5-14 age group, 530 cases (12.83%) in the 15-24 age group, 1,322 cases (14.40%) in the 25-44 age group, 1,439 cases (11.47%) in the 45-64 age group, and 848 cases (8.32%) in those 65 and older. The national incidence rate for acute respiratory infections is 13.3 cases per 1,000 people. Italian National Institute of Health
COVID-19 Update
Regarding COVID-19, the regional bulletin reports an increase of 353 cases in the second week of January, bringing the total to 1,088 positive cases (up from 817 the previous week). Currently, 13 individuals are hospitalized due to COVID-19 related illnesses, with