The epidemic situation with influenza and acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) in the Kyiv region for 41 weeks of 2024

On 01.10.2024, an epidemic season of increased incidence of influenza and ARVI began in Ukraine.

According to the latest data, 11,361 people fell ill with SARS and influenza in the Kyiv region during the 41st week of 2024 (07.10 - 13.10.2024), with an intensity rate of 634.9 per 100 thousand people, which is 26.71 TP3T below the epidemic threshold. Compared to the previous 40 weeks (01.10.-06.10.2024), the incidence increased by 4.6 %.

During the week, 7179 children under the age of 17 fell ill, which is 63.2 % of the total number of cases.

The number of people hospitalised for acute respiratory infections, including COVID-19, increased by 22.2 % compared to the previous week and amounted to 143 people (week 40 - 117 people), including 102 children under 17 (71.3 % of the total number of hospitalised).

During the reporting week, one fatal case of complications of influenza and ARVI was registered in Boryspil district - an elderly person (over 65 years old) died.

In the 2024-2025 season, simultaneous circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses is expected, which will determine the activity of the epidemic process.

Since the beginning of the epidemic season, the virological laboratory of the Kyiv Central Laboratory of the Ministry of Health has tested biomaterial samples from 177 patients with suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), of which 43 (24.3 %) were found to be SARS-CoV-2.

Two people were tested for influenza A, influenza B, and other respiratory viruses, with no positive results.

Due to the constant antigenic changes of the influenza virus, the WHO annually updates its recommendations on the composition of the influenza vaccine. Thus, for the prevention of influenza in the 2024-2025 season, tetravalent vaccines against influenza viruses that are likely to circulate in Ukraine will be used:

• a virus similar to A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1) pdm09;
• a virus similar to B/Austria/1359417/2021 (lineage B/Victoria);
• a virus similar to B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage).
• a virus similar to A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2) [A/California/122/2022 SAN-022 - "Vaxxigrippe Tetra"; A/Thailand/8/2022 IVR-237 - "JiSi Flu Quadrivalent"].

The best prevention of influenza and COVID-19 is vaccination. You can get vaccinated during the entire epidemic season, but the best time to get vaccinated is before the seasonal rise in the incidence of influenza and ARVI, which usually begins in November. Vaccinations are recommended before and throughout the epidemic season. Influenza vaccination is one of the recommended vaccinations, so the vaccine can be purchased at pharmacies at your own expense, as well as at the expense of enterprises or local budgets. The estimated cost of vaccines is from UAH 350.

As of 30.09.2024, the state quality control of influenza vaccines, according to the database of the State Administration of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control, has been completed:

• "Vaxigrippe Tetra (manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, France, quadrivalent);
• "JiCi Flu Quadrivalent (JiCi Biopharma Corp., South Korea, quadrivalent).

The quadrivalent vaccine is designed to provide immunity against four strains of influenza that will circulate in the Northern Hemisphere this season.

Vaccination against COVID-19 is free of charge.

Over 41 weeks, 291 people were vaccinated against influenza, including 114 people from risk groups (29 people with chronic diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, 4 people over 65 years old, 59 children aged 6 months to 5 years, 22 healthcare workers), and 177 other people.

Since the beginning of the epidemic season, a total of 628 people have been vaccinated against influenza in the Kyiv region.

If you have symptoms of flu or ARVI (fever up to +38⁰C, cough, headache, runny nose, etc.), we recommend that you immediately contact your family doctor for testing for COVID-19.