Norway faces an unusually early influenza outbreak this season. Health authorities report rising cases across the country. Elderly residents and at-risk groups should get vaccinated immediately.
Influenza infections are spreading faster than normal for this time of year. Oslo and central Norway show particularly high infection rates.
Last week, 3.2 percent of tested samples returned positive for influenza virus. This marks an increase from 2 percent the previous week. Hospital admissions with confirmed influenza nearly tripled from about 30 to almost 90 patients.
Health officials noted the outbreak might begin earlier than usual this year. All Norwegian counties now report influenza transmission.
Oslo currently shows the highest infection rate at 6.3 percent positive tests. MĂžre and Romsdal follows with 5 percent, while TrĂžndelag records 4.6 percent positive cases.
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health emphasizes vaccination as the best preventive measure against influenza. They specifically recommend protection for vulnerable populations.
This early surge suggests Norway might experience a more severe flu season than typical years. The rapid increase in hospitalizations indicates the virus is already circulating widely.