Armenia sees rise in hospitalizations for acute respiratory infections

The number of patients hospitalized with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) in Armenia continued to rise on March 16-22.

Data from Heratsi No. 1 University Hospital, Muratsan Hospital Complex and the Mikaelyan Institute of Surgery show 90 new SARI hospitalizations, a 4% increase compared with the previous week. SARI cases accounted for 7% of total hospital admissions, the Heratsi Research Center reported.

Children remained the most affected group. Patients aged 0-4 made up 60% of cases, up 20% from the prior week, with five requiring intensive care. Those aged 5-14 accounted for the remaining 40%.

Only four of the new SARI cases were tested for influenza during the reporting period, and no deaths were recorded among hospitalized patients.

Meanwhile, regional influenza activity declined below the epidemic threshold on March 9-15, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Hospitalizations in the broader region were primarily among adults aged 65 and older.

Influenza A subtypes continued to circulate, with A(H3) accounting for 57% of cases and A(H1) rising to 43%. The regional test positivity rate dropped to 8%, below the epidemic threshold, with an average of 3% across 22 countries.

COVID-19 activity remained low and stable at 2%, while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity stayed elevated at 10%, particularly affecting children under age 5.