Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 07, 2025 1 month, 6 days, 12 hours, 33 minutes ago
Medical News: Surge in Respiratory Infections Strains Healthcare System
Hungary is witnessing a significant rise in hospitalizations due to respiratory infections, with severe cases of influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on the rise. According to the latest data from the National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK), the number of patients seeking medical attention for respiratory issues surged during the past few weeks, reversing an earlier decline observed in February 2025. Although there was a slight drop in cases during the 9th week of the year, the overall rate of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) requiring hospitalization increased by 17.5% compared to the previous week.
Hospitalizations Due to Respiratory Infections Rises Across Hungary
Key findings indicate that nearly half of all samples tested in the 9th week contained some form of influenza virus, rising from 39% in the previous week.
This
Medical News report examines how the positivity rate for influenza (27.7%) has continued to exceed that of COVID-19 (7.6%), highlighting the severity of this respiratory season. In comparison, RSV positivity rates have also increased to 7.6%, adding further pressure on the healthcare system. Additionally, human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections have climbed to 1.4% of all samples tested, showing a notable increase from the previous year.
A Season Unlike Any Other
The 2024–2025 respiratory season has proven to be one of the most challenging in recent memory. Despite expectations that cases would peak earlier, hospitalizations have remained high well into March. The number of people seeking treatment for acute respiratory infections (ARI) reached 329,400 in the 9th week, mirroring figures from the previous week and making it the second time this year that consecutive weekly figures have been identical. While the number of patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) showed a slight decline of 1.7%, the share of ILI among ARI cases remains higher than in previous years, underscoring the dominance of influenza in this season’s viral landscape.
Historically, the respiratory season peaks between the 4th and 9th weeks of the year, and while Hungary is now past that window, the data suggests the outbreak is far from over. The ratio of SARI cases to overall infections has increased slightly to 0.094%, though public health officials maintain that the viruses currently circulating are not causing significantly more severe illness than in previous seasons. However, the high number of hospital admissions suggests that the burden on healthcare facilities remains considerable.
Influenza Leading the Charge
A total of 460 samples were tested in the 9th week of 2025, with only one testing positive for COVID-19, marking a sharp decline in coronavirus cases compared to previous years. Influenza, on the other hand, has taken center stage, accounting for nearly 47% of all tested samples - almost double last year’s 24.1%. RSV infections, while slightly lower than last year’s peak, remain a co
ncern, particularly among young children and elderly patients.
Comparing data from previous seasons, it is clear that the current situation is more severe than in either 2023 or 2024. Hospital admissions due to SARI rose sharply, with 362 patients admitted in the 9th week, of whom 32 required intensive care. The number of patients with influenza among hospitalized SARI cases reached 124, a significant increase from the 64 cases recorded at the same time last year. RSV-related hospitalizations also increased to 58 patients, indicating an ongoing struggle to contain multiple viral threats simultaneously.
The Most Affected Groups
Demographic analysis of hospitalized patients reveals that children under two years old and adults over 60 remain the most vulnerable to severe respiratory infections. Among the 362 SARI patients hospitalized in the 9th week, 117 (32.3%) were aged two years or younger, while 133 (36.7%) were aged 60 and older. This represents a sharp rise in elderly hospitalizations compared to the previous week when 28.9% of SARI cases involved seniors.
Interestingly, while no COVID-19 hospitalizations were recorded among elderly patients in the latest report, young children remain susceptible to the virus. A year ago, 60% of COVID-19 hospitalizations involved individuals over 60, but that trend has now shifted. The largest group of ARI patients, however, continues to be children aged 0-14, who make up the majority of flu-like illness cases.
Whooping Cough Cases Also Rising
In addition to the ongoing respiratory virus surge, Hungary is also dealing with a persistent outbreak of pertussis (whooping cough). The number of suspected pertussis cases remains high, with authorities recording 26 new cases in the 8th week alone. Data suggests that if this trend continues, 2025 could set a new record for pertussis cases, surpassing last year’s high of 1,354. Alarmingly, nearly 29% of this year’s cases have been in infants, with approximately half occurring in children under 19.
Conclusion
The current wave of respiratory infections in Hungary presents a serious public health challenge. The combination of influenza, RSV, and other seasonal viruses has led to a substantial increase in hospital admissions, particularly among children and the elderly. While COVID-19 no longer poses a significant threat in terms of hospitalizations, the dominance of influenza and the continued presence of RSV mean that healthcare facilities remain under strain. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, but the unpredictability of this season’s viral spread makes it difficult to predict when a sustained decline in cases will occur. Public health officials continue to stress the importance of vaccinations, preventive measures, and timely medical intervention to curb the impact of this prolonged respiratory season.
Hungary’s Integrated Surveillance System Results for Week 9 can be found here:
https://nngyk.gov.hu/hu/tovabbi-hirek/integralt-felugyeleti-rendszer-eredmenyei-2025-9-het.html
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Medical News.
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