SARS and flu cases increased by 20% in a week: where the rise is highest
26 February 15:16
Ukraine is experiencing a mid-season rise in the incidence of SARS, influenza and COVID-19, but the incidence is 17% lower compared to the previous season. According to epidemiologists, the upward trend in the incidence will continue for the next two weeks. This was reported by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
The Ministry reminded that the rise in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections is due to the circulation of influenza viruses in 22 regions of the country. Compared to the previous week, the number of cases increased by 20%: from February 17 to 23, 249,344 people fell ill, including 141,372 children.
What is the epidemic situation in the regions?
Currently, 3 regions – Rivne, Khmelnytsky and Chernivtsi regions – have registered an excess of the high-level epidemic threshold. Another 14 regions – Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, Ternopil, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions – have an average level. In Dnipropetrovska and Mykolaivska oblasts, the level is low.
In these regions or individual settlements of the region, enhanced anti-epidemic measures, the so-called “local quarantine,” may be applied by the decision of the regional commission on technogenic and environmental safety and emergency situations. This includes distance learning in certain classes in schools and educational institutions, limiting the number of visitors to institutions, and other anti-epidemic measures.
In other regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv, the situation is stable, at the pre-epidemic level.
What about care for patients with complications
According to the Ministry of Health, at the national level, the level of hospitalizations among patients with ARVI complications is not critical. Intensified epidemiological monitoring is ongoing in each region, with regional health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzing the situation with the spread of the disease and the availability of necessary medicines and the number of beds for patients with complications of ARVI, influenza and COVID-19, both for hospitalization in hospitals and intensive care units, on a daily basis.
In particular, during the week of February 17-23, 6,927 people were hospitalized with complications of ARVI, influenza and COVID-19, including 4,133 children. Among the patients who needed medical care in a medical facility, 220 people were diagnosed with COVID-19. The patients received the necessary medical care.
Since the beginning of the epidemic season from September 30, 2024 to February 23, 2025, 2,718,757 people have been ill with SARS, influenza and COVID-19, which is 17.3% less than in the same period of the 2023-2024 season. During this time, doctors diagnosed 18,329 cases of COVID-19. There were 108 deaths due to complications of influenza and ARVI.
Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself
Doctors remind that vaccination is recognized worldwide as one of the most effective ways to prevent and reduce the risk of severe complications of influenza and COVID-19. You can get a flu vaccine not only at the beginning but also throughout the entire epidemic season.
The flu vaccine is available in pharmacies, and as of February 23, 110,834 people have been vaccinated against the flu. In addition, all regions are provided with free COVID-19 vaccine. These are omicron-specific Comirnaty vaccines from Pfizer for adults and children. You can get vaccinated by contacting your family doctor. All vaccines in medical facilities are stored at the required temperatures, in accordance with international cold chain standards.
The Ministry of Health also reported that during a recent meeting of Minister Viktor Lyashko with representatives of the regions, all regions confirmed that they have the necessary medicines for patients with complications of SARS in designated medical facilities at the regional level. Therefore, if during hospitalization with complications of ARVI, influenza, COVID-19 the hospital reports the lack of necessary medicines or refers to paid X-rays or CT scans, patients are asked to call the Ministry of Health hotline 0 800 505 201 or the NHSU hotline 16-77. The Medical Guarantee Program guarantees these services to patients as free of charge.
