Belgium declares flu epidemic after surging cases

Belgium has officially declared a flu epidemic with cases surging to similar levels as COVID-19.

Its national public health institute Sciensano declared this on Wednesday, confirming that all criteria have been met to authenticate the prevailing condition as a flu epidemic.

“The flu has already been back for some time in our country, but now all the criteria are met to be able to talk about a flu epidemic,” the institute said, explaining that a “clear increase” in the number of influenza cases had been observed among general practitioners as well as in laboratory tests and hospitalizations.