Experts predict Europe tvindemia due to the return of influenza

Due to tight restrictions last winter in Europe, the influenza virus almost completely disappeared, but this year it is returning at a much faster pace, REUTERS reports, citing data from the EU medical regulator. This process raises fears of a double epidemic, or tweendemia, especially since the most dangerous strain of the H3A influenza virus circulates this year.

Since mid-December, influenza viruses have been circulating in Europe at a faster-than-expected rate, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In December, the number of influenza cases in European intensive care units rose steadily, peaking at 43 in the last week of the year. This is well below pre-pandemic levels, with more than 400 weekly influenza cases in intensive care units in 2018. But this is more than last year, when only one influenza case was reported in the intensive care unit for the entire month of December.

The return of the virus could be the start of an unusually long flu season that could stretch into the summer, Pasi Penttinen, ECDC's chief flu expert, told Reuters. “If we start lifting all measures, then my main concern is the flu, since we have had almost no circulation among the population of Europe for so long, perhaps we will move away from normal seasonal patterns,” he said.

Twyndemia could put undue pressure on already overburdened healthcare systems, the ECDC report says. According to data released by the French Ministry of HEALTH since last week, three regions of the country, including the Paris region, are experiencing an influenza epidemic. Others are in the pre-epidemic phase. France has already recorded 72 serious cases of influenza this season, with six deaths.