Influenza has begun to gain ground in the Valencian Community before the coldest part of autumn. Its estimated incidence rose from 6.7 to 28.2 cases per 100,000 people between weeks 43 and 44, a fourfold increase in seven days. So far, that rise has not produced greater hospital pressure: admissions for severe acute respiratory infections edged down from 11.6 to 11.1 per 100,000.
That contrast best describes the current epidemiological picture. Flu is circulating more widely in primary care, but the latest snapshot does not show a matching deterioration in cases requiring hospital treatment. The Valencian Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance System (SiVIRA) bulletin covers 26 October to 1 November and was issued on 4 November.
Seven flu positives from 179 samples
The estimate comes from a sentinel network, not a count of every diagnosis made across the region. Primary care laboratories tested 179 samples during the week: seven were positive for flu, thirteen for SARS-CoV-2 and none for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Flu positivity therefore stood at 3.9%. Six of the seven influenza viruses detected were type A and one was type B.
In hospitals, four of 53 samples tested positive for flu, a positivity rate of 7.5%. The bulletin also recorded five positive Covid samples and one RSV case. These are small numbers designed to indicate a trend; they help track week-to-week movement but do not represent the total number of people who are ill.
Acute respiratory infections as a whole rose by 8.5% to 722.6 cases per 100,000 people, according to figures reported by EFE. The increase was most visible among children under four, whose overall respiratory infection rate reached 3,467.2 per 100,000, up 15.6% on the previous week. Among people aged 65 and over, it rose by 3.4% to 692.9.
Walk-in flu vaccination is now available
The rise coincides with the flu campaign opening to the general population. Since 5 November, residents have been able to attend their health centre without an appointment during the vaccination slots set by each centre. There is no single timetable for the whole region, so local notices remain the best source before making a journey.
By 2 November, 559,332 flu doses had been administered. Coverage was above 50% both in care homes and in schools taking part in the campaign, according to Health Department figures reported by Alicante Plaza. The regional government has purchased more than 1.2 million flu doses for this season.
Vaccination remains particularly recommended for people aged 60 and over, children aged six to 71 months, pregnant women and those with specified health risks. València Informada maintains a service article explaining the eligible groups and how the campaign works; the new development is the change in direction detected by weekly surveillance.
The next SiVIRA bulletin will show whether this was a one-week jump or the beginning of a sustained rise. It will also indicate whether wider circulation starts to feed through into admissions, which week 44 does not yet show.