A significant influenza outbreak is now firmly established across Norway. Public health officials confirm a rapid acceleration in cases. The central eastern region and Møre og Romsdal county are currently the most affected areas. The epidemic is expected to spread nationwide in the coming weeks.
New data shows a sharp weekly increase in positive test results. The national positivity rate has nearly doubled, rising to 15 percent. Oslo reports the highest rate at 27 percent, followed by Akershus and Møre og Romsdal at 22 percent each. Among school-aged children, the positivity rate is a striking 36 percent.
Preben Aavitsland, the acting infection control director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, stated the situation clearly. 'The influenza epidemic is now seriously underway,' Aavitsland said. He noted the outbreak started earlier than usual this season. 'We are far from the peak,' he added, predicting a Christmas period with high infection rates.
Over 1.3 million Norwegians have received the influenza vaccine so far. Health authorities are urgently recommending vaccination for specific groups. These include unvaccinated elderly individuals, people in medical risk categories, and healthcare workers with patient contact. Officials are sending SMS reminders to encourage timely vaccination.
For those already infected, the advice is straightforward. 'They should relax and return to work when they are reasonably healthy again,' Aavitsland advised. Fredrik Rønning Iversen, the infection control chief physician for Oslo, emphasized basic hygiene. 'Coughing into your elbow and washing your hands are among the most important things we can do,' Iversen stated.
The current circulating strain, H3N2, has not been dominant for several years. This makes predicting the outbreak's ultimate severity difficult. 'We know there will be more sick people, more hospital admissions, and deaths,' Iversen explained. Last year's season resulted in hundreds of deaths and many hospitalizations. It is too early to say if this year's variant causes more severe illness than previous ones.
Local reports from schools like Marienlyst in Oslo illustrate the spread. A substitute teacher noted increased work due to illness among staff and students. One sixth-grade student described being sick and making multiple trips to the doctor. Another student reported being ill with fever and vomiting for nearly two weeks, likely infecting his classmates.
Analysis: This early and vigorous start to the flu season poses a clear test for public health messaging and the vaccination campaign. The high positivity rate among children, who are often vectors for household transmission, suggests community spread is already widespread. The focus on protecting high-risk groups is standard, but the effectiveness of this strategy hinges on vaccine uptake among those specific populations. The absence of this H3N2 strain for years could mean lower population immunity, potentially driving higher overall case numbers even if severity remains unchanged.