The flu epidemic is already over

Bilthoven (ANP) – The influenza epidemic that gripped our country in mid-December has officially ended, according to the RIVM. The National Institute of Public Health and the Environment came to this conclusion together with Erasmus MC and the Nivel Research Institute. The researchers looked at data from general practitioners, hospitals and laboratories.

At the end of January, the number of people reporting flu-like symptoms to their doctor had already decreased, but the decline did not continue at first. The number of samples in which influenza virus was found also remained high and even increased for a short time. The combination of these different factors meant that people were still talking about an epidemic. Now there is a decrease in symptoms suggestive of influenza on all fronts.

The epidemic reached its peak in the first week of this year. In that time, 99 out of 100,000 people with flu-like symptoms had gone to their GP. The first wave lasted from mid-December to the end of January. This was followed by a more moderate wave, which has continued so far.

Scientists consider it unlikely that influenza will re-emerge: “In the Netherlands, influenza usually occurs in the winter months, which is why it is also referred to as seasonal influenza. Other respiratory infections also occur mainly in the autumn and winter months.”