Greece logs two flu deaths and 57 flu admissions as COVID-19 positivity rises

Hospital admissions

The weekly report covers the week from 26 October to 1 November 2026, designated week 44/2026, and was published on Thursday, 5 November 2026. It counts 57 new influenza admissions to hospitals, up from 46 the previous week. Over the same period, 156 new COVID-19 admissions were recorded, down from 196 the week before. The comparison of admissions across both viruses is shown below.

Influenza, previous week46

Influenza, week 44/202657

COVID-19, previous week196

COVID-19, week 44/2026156

Influenza, previous week

46 admissions

Influenza, week 44/2026

57 admissions

COVID-19, previous week

196 admissions

COVID-19, week 44/2026

156 admissions

Data from the article text

Influenza

The report records two new serious influenza cases, both lab-confirmed patients treated in intensive care units, and two new deaths from lab-confirmed influenza. Since the start of the surveillance season, it counts 15 serious cases treated in intensive care and three deaths from lab-confirmed influenza. Influenza positivity in the community, estimated through the Sentinel primary care network, remains below the 10% epidemic threshold that marks seasonal activity, after a small decline from the previous week. Of 477 samples tested, 27 were positive for influenza, all of them type A. Of the 23 type A strains subtyped, 21 (91%) were A(H1)pdm09 and two (9%) were A(H3).

A(H1)pdm0921

A(H3)2

A(H1)pdm09

21 strains

A(H3)

2 strains

Data from the article text

COVID-19

Positivity for SARS-CoV-2 across all diagnostic tests in the country is trending upward, and the week 44/2026 showed an increase on the previous week. The report records no new intubation and no new COVID-19 death in that week. Sporadic intubations and deaths have been recorded since the start of summer 2025. From week 01/2025 through week 44/2026, the report counts 95 deaths among serious cases, meaning patients who were intubated and/or treated in intensive care. Viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in urban wastewater in the monitored areas is at a moderate level.

Other surveillance indicators

Influenza-like illness (ILI) per 1,000 visits remains at low levels and is trending upward, but showed no notable change compared with the previous week. Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) per 1,000 admissions is also at low levels, with small weekly fluctuations, and rose in week 44/2026 compared with the week before. Positivity for influenza in secondary care, as estimated through the SARI network, is also tracked in the report.

RSV and vaccination

RSV positivity in both the community Sentinel network and the SARI surveillance network has held steady at very low levels. Under the National Vaccination Programme, RSV vaccination is recommended for people aged over 75 and for people in high-risk groups. The report also particularly advises older people and those with underlying conditions to be vaccinated against both influenza and COVID-19.