ECDC suggests early cases may lead to severe upcoming influenza season for elderly people

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) report that, although the overall number of influenza detections in the majority of EU and EEA countries remains low, indications show that influenza circulation is above the seasonal threshold in Croatia, which is unusually early.

The main reported subtype among the cases recorded in the EU and EEA during the past month is A(H3N2), which disproportionally affects older people, and is associated with lower vaccine effectiveness. This may be a sign that the upcoming influenza season could be severe for elderly people, and that influenza patterns may vary between countries in terms of timing.

Source: ECDC, 26 October 2021