School holidays end with mass ARVI cases in Saratov Oblast

According to data from the third week of January, the Saratov Oblast has recorded a rise in cases of acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI). The regional office of Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing) reports that from January 12 to 18, the increase in ARVI cases amounted to 32%.

Specialists link this jump to children returning to school after the New Year holidays and to adults seeking medical help more frequently after postponing doctor visits during the festive period. The rise in illness was noted predominantly among the «adult population» and children aged 7–14, while a slowdown in the rate of increase was observed among children under 6.

In total, 12,502 cases of ARVI were registered in the oblast for the week. The overall incidence rate remains 4.9% below the epidemic threshold. The situation is more stable in the city of Saratov itself, with 4,718 cases recorded, practically the same as the previous week. The increase in the city was only 1.5%, and incidence remains 24.9% below the epidemic threshold.

According to laboratory monitoring data, both influenza viruses and other ARVI pathogens continue to circulate in the region. Among the detected influenza viruses, strain A (H3N2) predominates, accounting for the majority of findings, while influenza B is currently recorded only sporadically.

Separate concern is raised by an increase in COVID-19 cases. During the week, 56 cases of the new coronavirus infection were detected, which is 24 cases more than the previous week.

Last week during a briefing, the region«s Minister of Health, Vladimir Dudakov, reported that the epidemiological threshold was 27.6% lower. At that time, incidence had fallen by 24% compared to the previous week. He explained that this occurred against the backdrop of children going on holiday and mass vaccination.