The first week of December was the first week in several months that there was a drop in the number of recorded flu cases, according to the National Institute of Public Health and National Institute of Hygiene (PZH).

Professor Andrzej Zielinski, epidemic consultant at the PZH, the first week of December saw 96,000 registered cases of seasonal influenza, an average of 36.04 in every 100,000 people, as compared to the first week of November in which an average of 43.91 people in every 100,000 had the flu.

“We have to be happy about the drop in numbers of flu cases, but we do not know what will happen in the coming weeks. It could be a one-off fall,” says Zielinski.

Zielinski added that the number of swine flu cases has increased and affects largely those under 14 years of age, while the common seasonal flu affects mainly those older than 65.

Currently, laboratory testing has confirmed 1,520 cases of the A/H1N1 virus and 55 people in Poland have died carrying it. (mmj)