Respiratory Infections Rise Across Spain
Spain’s acute respiratory infection rate jumped 17.3% in a single week, reaching 479.4 cases per 100,000 residents between October 19 and 25, 2026, according to the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, following two consecutive weeks of declines recorded by the Sistema de Vigilancia de Infección Respiratoria Aguda (SiVIRA), published by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. This nationwide uptick reverses two consecutive weeks of declines, though health authorities keep the overall epidemic intensity at a low level after infections crossed the epidemic threshold in late September.
Primary Care Trends Show Divergent Virus Paths
Primary care testing reveals a mixed picture for individual respiratory pathogens across the country. Positivity rates for the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19 dropped sharply from 18.1% to 10.8% in primary care, while influenza positivity fell from 4.3% to 2.9%, alongside hospital positivity rates of 4.7% for influenza, 13.6% for SARS-CoV-2, and 0.6% for VRS. Conversely, the respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as VRS, ticked down slightly from 0.5% to 0.4% in primary care testing metrics, accompanied by hospital positivity rates of 4.7% for influenza, 13.6% for SARS-CoV-2, and 0.6% for VRS.
Estimated incidence figures mirror these shifts in outpatient clinics. Influenza incidence dropped 20.9% to 12.9 cases per 100,000 people, down from 16.3 cases the previous week, and COVID-19 fell to 50.7 cases per 100,000, down from 61.7 cases the previous week. Meanwhile, estimated VRS incidence climbed to 4.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 1.5 cases the previous week.
| Pathogen | Primary Care Positivity (Latest) | Estimated Incidence (per 100,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Influenza | 2.9% | 12.9 |
| SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) | 10.8% | 50.7 |
| Respiratory Syncytial Virus (VRS) | 0.4% | 4.8 |
Bronchitis Surges Among Young Children
The clearest driver of the overall infection increase is a sharp rise in bronchitis and bronchiolitis diagnoses among children under five years old. This specific pediatric rate grew 17.2% in one week, moving from 209.4 to 245.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Hospital admissions for severe acute respiratory infections edged down slightly to 10.2 cases per 100,000, down from 10.4 cases the previous week, while hospital positivity rates for influenza increased from 2.3% to 4.7%. Furthermore, the hospitalization rate for influenza was estimated at 0.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, remaining equal to the previous week, while COVID-19 hospitalizations since the start of the season showed 24.4% pneumonia cases, 1.4% intensive care unit admissions, and a 7.4% fatality rate, and VRS hospitalizations dropped to zero cases compared to 0.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants the prior week.
Regional Spikes in Castilla y León
Regional data show variations below the national totals. Castile and León surpassed the epidemic threshold with a 34.6% surge, reaching 572 cases per 100,000 residents compared to 425 the previous week, with primary care incidence in the region reaching 479.4 cases per 100,000 residents during the week of October 19 to 25, 2026, compared to 408.6 the previous week. The Community’s Sentinel Health Network indicated that the cases were caused by the H1N1 influenza virus, while H3 cases have decreased, and vaccination remains the primary tool for preventing influenza.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific age group is experiencing the sharpest increase in respiratory illness?
Children under five years old account for the most pronounced surge, with bronchitis and bronchiolitis rates climbing to 245.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in a single week.
How do hospital admission rates compare to outpatient clinic numbers?
While primary care infection rates rose overall, hospital admissions for severe acute respiratory infections decreased slightly to 10.2 cases per 100,000 residents.
Which specific influenza subtype is currently detected most frequently in regional testing?
The Red Centinela Sanitaria identified the AH1 subtype as the predominant strain circulating in regions like Castilla y León, while the AH3 strain declined.
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