Flu epidemic 'worst since Covid', says health authority

Belgian public health agency Sciensano has said that this year’s flu epidemic is the worst of its kind since the Covid pandemic.

“The concentration of influenza (flu) in wastewater is currently the highest on record,” said biologist Elke Wollants of the Rega Instituut at KU Leuven university.

“Everyone is ill, including doctors and even people who have been vaccinated. The workload at Gasthuisberg Hospital (UZ Leuven) is very heavy.”

The number of consultations with GPs for flu-like symptoms is 1,199 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to data from Scienscano, down slightly from last week (1,219).

These figures are "particularly high", the health authority said.

The peak also appears to be much higher than in the previous flu season, which saw around 600 consultations per 100,000 inhabitants.

GPs have said they are feeling the strain. Some 85% of them report a heavy or very heavy workload – a trend that has been rising in recent weeks.

Sciensano also noted 6.6 weekly hospital admissions per 100,000 inhabitants.