Flu cases remain on the rise with 126 deaths this season

Health Secretary Dr. Víctor Ramos Otero

By THE STAR STAFF

Health Secretary Dr. Víctor Ramos Otero announced on Tuesday that 3,383 new cases of influenza were registered during the epidemiological week of Jan. 4-10, bringing the cumulative number of cases for the 2025-2026 season to 39,052.

“We have 3,383 new cases of influenza, which is more than last week, and we have now been above the warning threshold and the epidemic threshold for five weeks,” Ramos Otero said during a press conference.

The secretary said 46.1% of the cases are in minors and that the hospitalization rate is 5.9%. The health regions with the highest number of cases are Ponce with 7,866, Caguas with 7,602, and Bayamón with 6,539.

Ramos Otero reported that 126 deaths associated with influenza have been confirmed during the season. Between Dec. 15 and Jan. 7, 28 deaths were added to the registry, which was due to accumulated forensic certification processes during the Christmas period. Two deaths remain under investigation.

The official detailed that of the 126 confirmed deaths, only four people were vaccinated, while among the most recent deaths, only one person had received the influenza vaccine.

Regarding virological surveillance, Ramos Otero noted that the Health Department is awaiting laboratory confirmation from New York regarding the possible presence of the H3N2 variant, whose results could be available Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

Regarding COVID-19, the official reported that 224 new cases were registered during the past week, with 11 hospitalizations and one death. He said the transmission level remains low and that the greatest impact is observed in elderly individuals. Regarding other respiratory viruses, Ramos Otero noted that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ended 2025 with 4,400 cases and that 86 cases have been reported so far in 2026, reflecting a downward trend. In the case of dengue, 2025 closed with 3,383 cases and 20 cases have been reported in 2026, with no deaths to date, he said.

The health secretary urged the public not to go to work or school if they experience respiratory symptoms within three to five days of attending recent large gatherings, and encouraged parents to cooperate with school protocols to prevent outbreaks.

Ramos Otero reiterated the importance of influenza vaccination for individuals older than six months and caregivers of children younger than that age, as well as the use of face masks in hospital settings. He added that if current indicators persist, the criteria for declaring an influenza epidemic on the island could be met next week.