With the arrival of cold weather in the capital and its surrounding areas, the respiratory illness season has begun in earnest. According to an initial report by Bratislavská den, published by the Bratislava Regional Public Health Office, the total number of acute respiratory illnesses rose by nearly a quarter in a single week. However, an even more significant spike was recorded specifically for the flu and flu-like illnesses.
Where the incidence grew the fastest and who is being affected by the viruses
During the 40th calendar week, medical professionals in the Bratislava Region recorded 1,109 cases of acute respiratory illnesses. The incidence rate reached 1,668.9 cases per 100,000 people, which is 23.8 percent higher than last week.
There are differences between individual districts:
- The highest incidence of common respiratory illnesses was recorded in the Senec district.
- Conversely, the lowest rates were in the Pezinok district.
- The most affected age group in this category was children from birth to five years of age.
While a steady increase is observed for common viral infections, the numbers for the flu itself have literally skyrocketed. The number of cases of the flu and flu-like illnesses rose by nearly 100 percent (specifically, 98.5 percent) over the week, and public health officials recorded 53 cases, representing 79.8 cases per 100,000 residents. However, it was not children who were most affected, but adults aged 25 to 64, with an incidence rate of 104 cases per 100,000 people. Among the districts, the highest number of flu cases was recorded in Bratislava IV, and the lowest in Malacky.
Complications are not uncommon
In many cases, the illness is severe. Complications were reported in 51 patients, accounting for 4.6 percent of all registered cases.
The most common medical complications included:
- Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis), detected in 45 cases.
- Inflammation of the middle ear in 4 cases.
- Pneumonia in 2 cases.
How to Protect Yourself and When It’s Best to Stay Home
Experts from the Regional Public Health Office in Bratislava remind us that prevention remains the best protection. The foundation of this is getting enough sleep, eating a varied diet rich in vitamins C and D, and dressing appropriately for the changing fall weather. Getting a flu shot is also one way to prevent illness.
If you do happen to get sick, public health experts recommend being mindful of those around you. If you must be around other people, wear a mask or respirator to reduce the risk of spreading the infection. However, the wisest decision is still to stay home and give your body time to fully recover without unnecessarily spreading viruses among coworkers or classmates.
