Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 28, 2024 1 year, 8 months, 2 weeks, 5 days, 7 hours, 41 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: In Valencia Province, Spain, COVID-19 has made an alarming resurgence, particularly among the elderly. Over the past week, cases have tripled, with those over 80 years of age experiencing severe outcomes at rates double those seen last year. Despite the progress made since the pandemic's peak over four years ago, COVID-19 remains a significant threat, especially for vulnerable populations.
New COVID-19 Surge Is Wiping Out The Elderly In Valencia Province In Spain
A Worrying Trend
Recent data from the third week of May indicates that the incidence of serious infections among the elderly has reached 100 per 100,000 inhabitants, a stark increase from the same period in 2023. In the preceding week, from May 6 to May 12, the rate was even higher at 130 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. These figures highlight a troubling trend where the elderly, despite being the most vaccinated group, are disproportionately affected by the virus.
Hospital Admissions and Respiratory Infections
More than half of hospital admissions for Valencians over 65 are due to COVID-19 or flu. For those over 80, COVID-19 is responsible for one in three hospitalizations, while the flu predominates among those aged 65 to 79. Dr Cruz González, president of the Valencian Society of Pulmonology, emphasizes that the elderly remain the most vulnerable. She notes that while the general population may experience mild symptoms, older adults often face severe complications, especially those with preexisting respiratory or heart conditions.
Death rates of the elderly infected with COVID-19 are also rising exponentially as reported by local doctors in Valencia. Official figures of COVID-19 deaths have yet to be disclosed by the provincial health authorities.
Elsewhere in Spain, The Carlos III Health Institute has reported a fourfold increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over two weeks, primarily affecting those aged 65 to 79. In Madrid, infections in individuals aged 60 and over have surged by 60%. Nationally, the incidence of respiratory infections has risen from 400 to 477 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with Madrid's incidence climbing by 56.4% to 445 cases.
Spain's overall hospitalization rate for COVID-19 has increased from 0.3 to 1.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in two weeks. Among those aged 65 to 79, hospitalizations have increased fivefold. Although these numbers remain within normalized records, they signal a troubling resurgence of the virus following the winter months.
The Role of Vaccinations
Despite high vaccination rates, the elderly are still experiencing significant impacts from COVID-19. Dr González advises that vulnerable individuals should consider using masks again to prevent respiratory infections. For those over 80, a respiratory infection can exacerbate other health issues, leading to complications such as heart problems, respiratory issues, and diabetes.
An Entire Year Above Average
Valencia has experienced over a year with respiratory infection levels consistently higher than the national average. According to the Acute Respiratory Infection Surv
eillance System (Sivira), the region's current incidence rate of these infections is 666 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 477 in the rest of Spain. This elevated rate has persisted since May of last year, peaking dramatically at the end of December, overwhelming hospitals.
Local
COVID-19 News coverages have corroborated all the COVID-19 statistis for Spain that we presented here.
https://www.lasprovincias.es/comunitat/comunitat-registra-repunte-covid-infecciones-respiratorias-ceban-20240524113252-nt.html
https://bilbaohiria.com/en/bizkaia/el-repunte-covid-es-la-variante-omicron/
The FLiRT Variant
Compounding the issue is the emergence of the new FLiRT variant, which originated in the United States in late April and quickly became the dominant strain there. This variant, though not yet detected in Valencia, has appeared in Catalonia and the Basque Country. It is highly contagious, causing symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat, congestion, headache, muscle aches, difficulty breathing, fatigue, loss of smell or taste, and gastrointestinal issues.
Conclusion
The recent spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Valencia and across Spain underscores the ongoing threat of the virus, particularly for the elderly. Despite vaccinations and a less severe disease course for many, COVID-19 continues to pose serious risks. The emergence of new variants like FLiRT further complicates the situation, necessitating continued vigilance and preventive measures to protect the most vulnerable populations.
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