Influenza Positivity Rate Reaches 25.3 Percent in Hungary as Hospitals Get Overwhelmed
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 21, 2025 20 hours, 17 minutes ago
Medical News: Sharp Rise in Respiratory Infections Puts Pressure on Hungary’s Healthcare System
Hungary is grappling with a significant surge in respiratory infections, reversing what had appeared to be a promising decline just a week earlier. Data from the National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK) reveals that the number of people seeking medical assistance for acute respiratory infections (ARI), including influenza-like illness (ILI), increased sharply in the 7th week of 2025. The number of influenza-like illnesses per 100,000 inhabitants is now at its second-highest level in the last 13 respiratory seasons, with the last such spike occurring a decade ago.
Influenza Positivity Rate Reaches 25.3 Percent in Hungary as Hospitals Get Overwhelmed
Key findings from the latest data include:
-Over half (52.4%) of samples tested during the 7th week contained some form of influenza virus.
-The influenza positivity rate for all samples tested stands at 25.3%, surpassing the declining COVID-19 positivity rate (8.7%).
-The coronavirus positivity rate saw a slight uptick from 0.8% to 1.0%.
-The RSV positivity rate increased from 4.7% to 5.0%.
-The number of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections reached 59, compared to 34 a year earlier.
-The number of hospitalizations due to severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) rose to 290, surpassing figures from previous respiratory seasons.
-Among hospitalized SARI patients, 40.7% tested positive for influenza, 14.1% for RSV, and 1.7% for COVID-19.
A Reversal of Optimism
Just a week ago, experts believed that the peak of the respiratory season had been reached, given the slight decline in cases. However, this
Medical News report highlights how those predictions were premature. The latest data from the 7th week of 2025 (covering February 10-16) shows that 312,600 people sought medical attention for ARI, an increase of 1.7% from the previous week. Similarly, ILI cases rose by 5.7%, following a brief decline in the 6th week.
In comparison to the previous two respiratory seasons, the number of ARI and ILI cases is significantly higher this year. More than a quarter of all ARI patients are exhibiting symptoms of influenza, and the share of ILI among all respiratory infections has risen from 26.6% to 27.8%. This pattern signals that the flu is having a stronger impact than in previous years.
Testing and Positivity Rates
A total of 496 samples were tested in the 7th week, slightly fewer than the record 515 tests conducted in the previous week. Among these, five samples tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in a positivity rate of 1.0%, significantly lower than the 3.1% observed a year ago. Meanwhile, the proportion of samples testing positive for influenza continues to outpace the past two years, standing at 52.4%, compared to 36.5% in 2024 and 41.3% in
2023.
RSV cases, while increasing slightly, remain lower than in previous years. However, the total number of influenza cases detected since the 4th week of 2025 has outstripped other respiratory viruses, leading health officials to express concerns about the continuing spread of the flu.
Hospitalizations and ICU Cases on the Rise
Hospitalizations due to severe acute respiratory infection have risen sharply, with 290 people admitted in the 7th week of 2025. Among them, 43 patients required intensive care, marking the highest ICU admission rate of the current respiratory season. This is notably higher than the ICU admission rates recorded in the previous two years, which stood at 10.4% and 11.3%, respectively.
Further analysis of hospital data reveals that:
-Five of the hospitalized SARI patients tested positive for COVID-19, a significant drop compared to previous years.
-A total of 118 patients (40.7% of all hospitalized SARI cases) tested positive for influenza, up from 24.3% in 2024 and 10.9% in 2023.
-RSV hospitalizations slightly declined to 14.1% from 15.3% the previous week.
Age Demographics of Affected Patients
Children and older adults remain the most vulnerable groups in the ongoing respiratory epidemic. Among the 290 hospitalized SARI patients, 81 (27.9%) were aged two years or younger, while 103 (35.5%) were aged 60 and above. These figures represent a decline in pediatric hospitalizations but a sharp rise in elderly admissions compared to the previous week.
In the broader population, children under 14 years of age continue to make up a significant proportion of ARI and ILI cases. Approximately 151,000 children in this age group were diagnosed with ARI, and 37,000 presented with ILI symptoms in the 7th week of 2025. These figures are noticeably higher than those recorded in the same period last year, underscoring the increasing burden on healthcare facilities.
Whooping Cough Cases Remain Concerning
In addition to influenza and other respiratory infections, whooping cough (pertussis) remains a persistent problem in Hungary. Early data from 2025 suggests that this year may set another record for suspected cases unless a significant decline occurs. Authorities have reported 85 suspected cases so far, with more than a third occurring in infants.
The latest Hungary Respiratory Infections Report and Integrated Surveillance System Results for Week 7, 2025 can be found here:
https://nngyk.gov.hu/hu/tovabbi-hirek/integralt-felugyeleti-rendszer-eredmenyei-2025-7-het.html
Conclusion
Hungary's healthcare system is under mounting pressure as respiratory infections surge, reversing earlier signs of decline. The high positivity rate of influenza, coupled with rising hospitalizations, has placed a significant burden on medical facilities. Although COVID-19 cases remain relatively low, the combined impact of influenza, RSV, and other respiratory viruses continues to strain hospital capacity. Health officials urge citizens to take preventive measures, including vaccination, proper hygiene, and avoiding crowded places, to curb the spread of infections.
Additionally, concerns over the rise in whooping cough cases further highlight the need for vigilance and timely medical intervention.
For the latest Influenza News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
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