The number of respiratory infection cases, encompassing influenza among other illnesses, is on a steady rise, signaling a cause for concern. Over the past week, these infections surged by ten percent, reaching 1423 cases per 100,000 people. Public health officials highlight that these figures are gradually inching closer to epidemic thresholds, indicating a potential health challenge.

Data on the rising number of cases were released by the Regional Public Health Station of the Liberec Region, presenting nationwide statistics. The findings reveal that the highest morbidity in the Czech Republic persists and is escalating among the youngest preschool-aged children. However, the epidemic threshold has already been surpassed among age groups starting from 24.

There are notable variations in the situation across different regions. While Liberec recorded a six-percentage-point increase in morbidity over the past week, Central Bohemia witnessed a more substantial surge of almost 19 percent. Conversely, the Plzeň Region reported a decrease in cases.

Interestingly, despite the surge in respiratory infections, the number of new COVID-19 cases has recently decreased. Last week, the Ministry of Health recorded 1604 confirmed cases, representing only a fraction of the daily additions seen in December last year.

Jan Pačes from the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences had earlier predicted a potential increase in COVID-19 infections in February or March, given the peak during the autumn or winter months around Christmas and New Year.

Public health officials emphasize the ongoing effectiveness of vaccinations against both influenza and COVID-19. As cases continue to rise, vaccination remains a crucial preventive measure to mitigate the impact of these respiratory infections and protect public health.

Article by Prague Forum