🫁 EU/EEA: respiratory illness remains elevated in 2026

ECDC’s latest weekly Communicable Disease Threats Report finds respiratory illness symptoms remain elevated and rising since the start of 2026, signaling widespread respiratory virus circulation across the EU/EEA. Influenza remains widespread (often driven by ages 5–14), RSV is elevated and increasing (with most hospitalisations in children <5), while SARS‑CoV‑2 circulation remains low with limited hospitalisations compared with influenza and RSV.

Why It Matters To Your Practice

• Expect sustained demand for same-day respiratory evaluations, especially in pediatrics and older adults, as community transmission remains broad.

• Influenza patterns vary by country (some peaked, others nearing peak), so local surveillance should guide testing and treatment thresholds.

• Adults >65 continue to account for most hospital admissions, ICU admissions, and deaths—despite overall hospitalisations decreasing compared with early 2026.

Clinical Benefits

• Targeted testing can be more efficient: influenza and RSV are the leading drivers right now, with SARS‑CoV‑2 contributing relatively fewer hospitalisations.

• Age-pattern recognition helps triage: school-aged children (5–14) appear to drive influenza transmission; children <5 are most affected by RSV.

• Early EU/EEA estimates for 2025–2026 seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness align with other countries’ A(H3N2) findings—supporting continued vaccination conversations.

Managing Risks

• Prioritize severe-risk groups for rapid assessment and escalation planning: older adults (>65) remain the main source of ICU admissions and deaths.

• Interpret pooled trends cautiously: ECDC notes provisional data, reporting delays, incomplete country data, low testing volumes, and outsized influence from a few high-testing countries.

• Keep differential diagnosis broad during respiratory disorder presentations: co-circulation of influenza A subtypes A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) plus rising RSV can complicate symptom-based decisions.

The Bottom Line

• Respiratory illness activity is still elevated and increasing in the EU/EEA in early 2026—plan staffing and triage accordingly.

• Influenza and RSV are the main current burdens (peds drive transmission and admissions, respectively); SARS‑CoV‑2 remains comparatively low.

• Use local surveillance plus patient age/risk to guide testing, antivirals/supportive care, and escalation—especially for patients >65 and children <5.