The flu epidemic in our country is over. The number of patients who went to the doctor with flu complaints is already below the epidemic threshold for the fourth week in a row, the Sciensano health institute reported on Wednesday.
Source: BELGA
Yesterday at 6:31 PM
The number of patients who went to the doctor with flu-like complaints fell further last week (March 18 to 24). The incidence is now 62 consultations per 100,000 inhabitants. “The seasonal flu epidemic is therefore considered to be over,” Sciensano writes in his weekly bulletin.
“We had already fallen below the threshold at the end of February, but we have to stay below it for two weeks before the epidemic is considered over,” explains virologist Steven Van Gucht. “Last week there was a small outbreak close to the epidemic threshold, which is why we could not declare the end of the epidemic at that time. But I think we can now say that it is over.”
“The virus will continue to circulate for a few weeks, but we have had the greatest flu activity,” Van Gucht concludes.
This winter’s flu epidemic had an average intensity, but lasted eleven weeks, which is relatively long. Usually a seasonal flu epidemic in our country lasts six to twelve weeks.