The National Institute of Public Health (INSP) announces that, in the week of January 26 – February 1, 11 deaths caused by the influenza virus were confirmed, bringing the total number of deaths for the 2025-2026 flu season to 68.
According to the data provided by the INSP, 112,896 cases of acute respiratory infections – clinical flu, acute upper respiratory tract infections (IACRS) and pneumonia – were reported in the mentioned interval. The number is 7.6% higher than the previous week, when 104,973 cases were recorded, but 34.7% lower than the same period of the previous flu season. At the same time, the incidence is 14.8% below the average calculated for the non-pandemic seasons of the period 2018–2025.
In the same week, 9,039 cases of clinical influenza were reported nationally, up from the previous week (8,499), but below the level reported in the same week last season, when 12,583 cases were confirmed. Compared to the average of the last five seasons (5,555 cases), the number of illnesses is 1.6 times higher.
Cases of clinical influenza were reported from all the counties of the country, the most being in the city of Bucharest – 1,135 cases. Following are the counties of Prahova, with 894 cases, and Constanța, with 704 cases, these being the areas with the highest incidence of illnesses in the analyzed period.
INSP also shows that 60 cases of severe acute respiratory infections (SARS) were recorded, one less than the previous week, but 15 more cases compared to the same period of the previous flu season. Also, 209 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza were reported, of which 57 with AH3 influenza virus, 13 with AH1 influenza virus, 137 with non-subtyped influenza A virus and two cases with influenza B virus.
Since the beginning of the flu season, the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases has reached 1,444. Of these, 428 were determined to be AH3 influenza virus, 72 AH1 influenza virus, 937 non-subtyped influenza A virus, six influenza B virus and one case of co-infection with influenza virus A and B. The INSP specifies that, for all AH3 samples sequenced at the National Institute of Medical-Military Research-Development “Cantacuzino”, subclade K was identified.
In terms of deaths, the 11 cases reported in the last week bring the season’s total to 68. The most deaths were among the elderly: 56 cases in people over 65 years of age. Another six deaths were reported in the 50–64 age group, five in the 15–49 age group and one death in children aged 5–14 years.
On the prevention component, INSP shows that, until February 1, 1,300,994 flu vaccinations were registered in the National Electronic Register of Vaccinations (RENV). Of these, 1,274,242 were carried out on people from the population groups benefiting from settlement under the compensated regime, and 6,091 vaccinations were carried out in authorized community pharmacies.
The health authorities still recommend flu vaccination, especially for vulnerable people, as well as the observance of preventive measures, in the context of the intense circulation of respiratory viruses specific to the cold season.
