Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 26, 2025 3 hours, 23 minutes ago
Medical News: Worrisome Increase in Respiratory Infections
Spain’s national public health institute, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), has released its latest surveillance data revealing that COVID-19 and other respiratory infections are once again on the rise. The Sistema de Vigilancia de Infección Respiratoria Aguda (SiVIRA), which monitors both primary care and hospital data across the country, shows that the overall national rate of acute respiratory infections (IRA) has climbed to 435.2 cases per 100,000 people—well above the epidemic threshold. Though the current level of intensity is classified as low, the upward trajectory is concerning given the seasonal overlap with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). According to this
Medical News report, COVID-19-related illness, influenza, and bronchitis are the leading causes of the observed surge.
COVID-19 Still Circulating Despite Public Fatigue
The latest SiVIRA report for week 42 of 2025 (covering October 13–19) indicates that the incidence of COVID-19 syndromic cases in primary care stands at 10.9 per 100,000 people—slightly lower than the previous week’s 14.8 (however the number of test being conducted has also dropped significantly as many are not testing) but still representing significant community transmission. When accounting for testing positivity rates, the proxy incidence of COVID-19 is estimated at 37.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. SARS-CoV-2 positivity in respiratory samples remains at 8.7 percent, suggesting that nearly one in ten patients tested for respiratory symptoms still carries the virus. Health officials note that these figures highlight the continued persistence of SARS-CoV-2 circulation even as public attention has waned.
Hospitalizations Reflect COVID-19’s Enduring Burden
Hospital surveillance data show that Spain’s severe acute respiratory infection (IRAG) hospitalization rate currently stands at 10.3 per 100,000 people, with COVID-19 accounting for a considerable portion of these cases. The hospitalization proxy for COVID-19 is estimated at 0.9 per 100,000, only slightly below the previous week. Alarmingly, among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 23.4 percent develop pneumonia, 2 percent require intensive care admission, and 7.8 percent succumb to the disease. These numbers underscore that even in late 2025, COVID-19 continues to exert a deadly toll on vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with chronic conditions.
Flu and RSV Also Showing Early Activity
The report indicates that influenza is beginning its seasonal climb, with 6.8 percent of respiratory samples testing positive for flu, up from 5.5 percent the week before. The influenza proxy incidence is now 29.6 per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, RSV activity remains low but is expected to rise as temperatures drop; the virus currently accounts for 0.3 percent of cases, with a hospitalization proxy rate of 0.1 per 100,000. In young children under five, rates of bronchitis and bronchiolitis have risen slightly to 217 cases per 100,000, signaling early pediatric vulnerability before the winter peak.
Mortality Data Indicate Excess Deaths Nationwide
Spain’s mortality monitoring model (MoMo) has also recorded an excess in deaths during the same week. A total of 8,666 deaths were observed nationwide compared to an expected b
aseline of 7,741—an excess of nearly 12 percent. While not all of these deaths are directly attributed to COVID-19, public health experts suggest that the combined effect of respiratory infections, underlying chronic diseases, and healthcare strain may be driving this excess mortality. The ISCIII emphasizes that these numbers will continue to be refined as data from regional networks and laboratories are consolidated.
Spain’s Surveillance System Warns of a Difficult Winter Ahead
Researchers and epidemiologists from the Centro Nacional de Epidemiología and the Centro Nacional de Microbiología of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, who contributed to this report, stress the need for vigilance. The coordination between regional surveillance networks, hospital laboratories, and genomic sequencing centers (RELECOV) has made it possible to track the simultaneous spread of influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, and RSV in real time. The data confirm that although the official COVID-19 emergency is long over, the virus continues to circulate actively and contributes to substantial hospitalization and mortality rates, particularly among those with preexisting conditions.
With respiratory infections already above the epidemic threshold in mid-October, experts warn that Spain may face a challenging winter season ahead. Public health authorities are urging eligible populations to get updated vaccinations against both influenza and COVID-19 and to remain cautious in crowded indoor settings.
The official surveillance bulletin of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III can be found here:
https://docsivira.isciii.es/informe_semanal_SiVIRA_202542.html
https://cne.isciii.es/en/servicios/enfermedades-transmisibles/enfermedades-a-z/gripe-covid-19-y-otros-virus-respiratorios
For the latest COVID-19 news, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
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