Flu monitoring season begins in Latvia

The 2026–2027 monitoring season for influenza and other acute respiratory infections has begun in Latvia, but so far, Latvia has only received the intranasal ‘Fluenz’ vaccine, which is intended for children who belong to specific health risk groups, according to the Disease Prevention and Control Centre (SPKC). This season, the production of influenza vaccines in Europe has been delayed; consequently, vaccine deliveries to Latvia are taking place gradually and slightly later than usual this year. Deliveries of the ‘Efluelda’ flu vaccine to GP practices will begin this week. This vaccine is intended for people aged 60 and over, as well as those with moderate or severe immunosuppression. Meanwhile, the “Vaxigrip” vaccine, which is intended for other target groups eligible for state-funded vaccination – including adults and children with chronic illnesses – is expected to arrive in Latvia by 13 November. This season, state-funded flu vaccination will be provided using three vaccines, each intended for different population groups. The first laboratory-confirmed cases of flu in Latvia this season were recorded even before the start of the flu monitoring season and were linked to travel outside Latvia. Meanwhile, in week 40 of 2026, when monitoring began, influenza was clinically diagnosed in three patients, or 3.9 cases per 100,000 population, which is lower than during the corresponding period of the previous season (9.9 cases per 100,000 population). A total of 918 patients, or an average of 1,179.3 per 100,000 population, consulted their GPs with symptoms of other acute respiratory infections. The prevalence of other acute respiratory infections is also slightly lower than during the corresponding period of the previous season.  Last week, influenza was not laboratory-confirmed in any of the 166 samples tested, whilst RSV infection was confirmed in one sample (0.6 per cent), according to laboratory surveillance data. The proportion of Covid-19-positive samples was 1.2 per cent, remaining at roughly the same level as the previous week. Unlike in previous years, no increase in Covid-19 cases was observed in late summer and early autumn this year.