The Ministry of Health published updated statistics on Wednesday that indicate a continued increase in influenza morbidity in Israel.
Over the past week, the rate of visits to medical clinics with flu-like symptoms was at the high-activity level, a figure not recorded in the past years at such an early point in the season.
166 children diagnosed with influenza were hospitalized, indicating a situation that points to a more severe overall picture. In addition, eight children and infants are hospitalized in intensive care units due to complications from the virus.
51% of samples that were tested at the sentinel clinics, which serve to monitor the disease, were found to be positive, the overwhelming majority with the A/H3N2 subtype.
This strain has gained momentum worldwide over the past year, being described as more contagious and possibly more severe, leading to serious complications among those infected, particularly children.