Iran health authorities warn of rising COVID-19 and influenza rates

The Iranian Ministry of Health's Center for Communicable Disease Management has issued a warning regarding a significant rise in respiratory infections. Data from the 27th week of the year indicates that COVID-19 positivity rates have nearly doubled, rising from 8.9 percent to 17.4 percent compared to the previous week, surpassing high-alert thresholds.

Influenza cases have also seen an increase, with a positivity rate of 1.7 percent. Among influenza cases, Type B remains the dominant strain, accounting for 80.7 percent of infections. Notably, 36.5 percent of influenza cases involve children, with significant numbers in the 2 to 5 and 6 to 15 age groups.

Medical experts, including pediatric infectious disease specialist Mohammad Rahim Kadivar, noted that the circulation of COVID-19 is currently outpacing influenza. While current variants may present with less severe symptoms than previous strains, experts warn that the virus remains highly transmissible and poses a serious risk to the elderly and individuals with underlying health conditions. Health authorities emphasize the necessity of intensified monitoring and adherence to hygiene protocols to prevent rapid spread during the autumn season.