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Flu cases explode across Spain two weeks before Christmas
Cases triple in Andalucía and increase by an incredible 248% in the Region of Murcia
Spain has been hit by another massive surge in flu cases at the worst possible time. With just two weeks to go until Christmas, when families and friends will be gathering for the celebrations, the numbers are climbing even faster than expected. Experts believe the peak will hit just after the festive period, but even now the figures are already alarming.
Both Madrid and Catalonia have already blown past the highest infection rates seen in the last three flu seasons, and in Andalucía the incidence has tripled in just the first week of December. All of this is happening as doctors across Spain continue a week-long strike, with threats to extend it if their demands aren't met.
The worrying statistics have pushed regional governments up and down the country to ramp up prevention measures against flu and other respiratory infections like Covid-19 and RSV.
Here’s what’s happening in some of the worst-affections regions of Spain:
Madrid
The Spanish capital is experiencing one of the sharpest increases in flu cases. According to the latest epidemiological report, the rate shot up to 275 cases per 100,000 people between December 1 and 7.
That's more than double the rate from just seven days earlier (112.31 cases per 100,000) and way above the epidemic threshold of 22.38 cases.
It's also significantly higher than the peak infection rates from the last three winters (177 cases in 2023/2024, 131 in 2024/2025 and 90 in 2022/2023).
Since the epidemic kicked off three weeks ago, the incidence rate has just kept climbing. In the last week alone there were 19,301 new cases, a 145% jump compared to the previous week. In hospitals, people aged 80 and over are being hit hardest, with a rate of 60.53 cases per 100,000.
In primary care, the biggest increases this week have been among young children. Kids aged 0 to 4 are showing rates of 1,243.73, and those aged 5 to 14 have rates of 1,023.13. Within these groups, 3 and 4 year olds have the highest numbers.
There have also been six flu outbreaks recorded in nursing homes over the last seven days, with preventative measures like isolation and mask use now in place.
Murcia
In the Region of Murcia, the incidence rate has jumped by a staggering 248% in just seven days, reaching 180 cases per 100,000 people in the first week of December, according to the latest report from the Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance System. The incidence of acute respiratory infections overall has also increased by 32%, now standing at 982 cases per 100,000.
From this Tuesday, masks are now mandatory in public and private healthcare facilities throughout the Region. This measure will stay in place at least until the end of the year.
The Murcian government has stressed that mask use is "the most effective and simplest prevention mechanism" to help contain the transmission of respiratory viruses. Outside of healthcare settings, the regional health authorities are generally recommending masks for particularly vulnerable or immunocompromised people, as well as anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness.
Andalucía
In Andalucía, although the weekly report on respiratory infections hasn't been published yet, the Minister of Health, Antonio Sanz, confirmed on Tuesday that the incidence of influenza has reached 33.5 cases per 100,000 people. That means the figures have tripled in just seven days, and the community has now gone over the epidemic threshold.
The regional government is urging people to get vaccinated. So far, more than 1.7 million Andalucíans have already had the jab.
"We are facing a particularly virulent respiratory infection season," Mr Sanz stated, before guaranteeing that the regional government will implement "all available measures" to strengthen surveillance and control "of this flu epidemic already affecting the community."
The health department has reiterated that masks are recommended in healthcare facilities and nursing homes. What's more, masks are now mandatory in centres that have activated their High-Volume Care Plan at least three times in the last seven days and where the incidence rate in their area has doubled.
Catalonia
The incidence of influenza is even higher in Catalonia. According to data published on Tuesday December 9 by the Catalan Infection Surveillance Information System (SIVIC), the community has already reached 418 cases per 100,000 people in the last week. That's more than double the figure from the previous week (164 cases per 100,000).
Just like Madrid, the current figure is already much higher than the peak of the three previous seasons (293 cases in 2024/2025, 192 cases in 2023/2024 and 133 cases in 2022/2023).
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