Flu Hits Canary Islands Four Weeks Early
The virus is causing increased activity in health‑centre consultations, where mask use is recommended.
The influenza virus is beginning to rise in the Canary Islands, although it has not yet crossed the thresholds to be classified as an epidemic, as has happened in other Spanish regions. In those areas, health authorities have issued orders recommending masks in hospitals and elderly care homes. The Ministry of Health and the autonomous communities will discuss a common response protocol today, according to Diario de Avisos.
Growing Trend
The flu wave continues its upward trajectory. The latest weekly report from the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) shows that the incidence rate of influenza‑like syndrome has climbed to 52.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 39.8 the previous week, putting the season four weeks ahead of the previous year. The provisional hospitalization rate for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) stands at 5.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
According to established epidemiological thresholds, the Canary Islands remain in scenario 0 (baseline situation below 57.1 cases). However, if the upward trend persists, a shift to scenario 1 (low level) is expected soon.
Virus Variants
Analysis of the 100 sentinel samples that tested positive revealed 96.9 % influenza A and 3.1 % influenza B. Within influenza A, the H1N1pdm09 strain predominated at 50.5 %. Since week 46, however, an increase in the A(H3N2) K subclade has been detected. This subclade has spread rapidly in England and other Northern‑Hemisphere countries and carries mutations that allow it to partially evade the immune response generated by current vaccines, although the vaccines still provide significant protection, especially for children and adolescents.
“The new A(H3N2) mutation was barely circulating in the islands until a few weeks ago, but we are already detecting its increase,” said Álvaro Torres Lara, head of the Epidemiological Surveillance and Prevention Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS).
Impact on Health Services
At present, health centres are seeing more patients with respiratory and flu infections—particularly elderly individuals, people with chronic illnesses, and children under 16—and a clear upward trend is evident, with infections appearing one month earlier than in the previous season.
Officials expressed surprise at the early and strong onset of flu activity in the Basque Country and Navarre, which began in the first week of October, as well as in other regions in November. For example, Madrid reported a 164 % increase in the last week, reaching a rate of 112 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, while the United Kingdom’s epidemic started seven weeks ahead of schedule.