While the number of flu cases has been on the rise in Belgium since before the start of 2024, the peak of infections is only expected in mid-February, said virologist for the Sciensano National Health Institute Steven Van Gucht.
The incidence of GP consultations for flu-like symptoms in Belgium has risen to 537 consultations per 100,000 inhabitants in the past week, Sciensano's latest report shows. This confirms previous reports that a large number of people are indeed sick.
"We have been in a flu epidemic since the end of last year," Van Gucht told De Standaard. "The epidemic threshold has been crossed for several weeks: we are at a high level in terms of flu, but I expect the number to go up even further in the next two weeks."
"You can clearly see it: there are a lot of sick people at the moment," he said, adding that the upcoming carnival holidays – which start on 12 February in Dutch-speaking schools and on 28 February in French-speaking ones – will lead to improvement.
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Holidays usually slow down the spread of viruses because people (especially children) have fewer contacts during that time. "I hope that the tide will indeed turn then," Van Gucht said.
Meanwhile, the number of Covid-19 infections, which were flaring up highly in December, is in decline now – according to Van Gucht, Covid infections are currently "at a stable level," as are RSV infections.
