National Public Health Institute: One flu-related death in the week of Feb 23

One person died last week in Romania from the flu, the National Public Health Institute (INSP) reported on Thursday.

Since the beginning of the season, 84 flu-related deaths have been recorded.

A total of 77,309 respiratory infections (clinical flu, upper acute respiratory tract infections and pneumonia) were reported nationwide in the week of February 23 – March 1, by 11.9% fewer than the previous week (87,831) and 37.4% fewer than in the same week of the previous season (123,502). The decrease compared with the multi-year average of 100,396 cases (2018 – 2025, excluding pandemic seasons) was 23%, the INSP stated.

During the same period, 1,327 cases of clinical flu were reported nationwide, compared with 2,545 the previous week, 8,647 in the same week last season, and a five-season average of 3,060.

There were also 60 lab-confirmed flu cases (18 with AH3 strain, four with AH1, 37 with unsubtyped influenza A, and one with influenza B).

As of 1 March, the National Electronic Vaccination Registry recorded 1,307,776 flu vaccinations (1,280,749 for population groups eligible for subsidy), including 6,103 in authorized community pharmacies.