'Currently, we are calling children home every day as influenza cases rise.'

The phrase *"Everyone is sick right now"* may well be one that circulates in many workplaces these days—and for good reason.

Influenza cases and hospitalizations remain at a high level, with rising numbers. This is evident from the latest data from the Statens Serum Institut (SSI), which shows (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/220fef27d07d438889d651cc2e00076c/page/Influenza-A%2BB/) that the number of new influenza infections is currently higher than at the same time over the past five years.

That is why, as reported in *Berlingske* (https://www.berlingske.dk/indland/folk-er-svaert-syge-influenzaboom-presser-hospitaler-i-hovedstaden?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqdVj4T1Aj-xCYlVjm6nSE1UkP8xqEPZBV0zz41Frrkpn-nBLHYI_nW-e4Af6AE%3D&gaa_ts=69846ad5&gaa_sig=P7bKtrCfWK0jtyhgAkZuWSh2ZN9IkFI5DZtaWz5NqZ8rZOfkqe3SLN4S4E6bELvNVcsYxyO5CsSSFoi0tFwLlw%3D%3D), hospitals—particularly in the capital region—are under pressure and operating at high capacity.

- Some hospital beds are occupied by influenza patients, which affects the facilities, as these individuals must be isolated—otherwise, they could infect other vulnerable patients admitted for unrelated conditions, says **Bolette Søborg**, section leader and chief physician at SSI.

The consequences are far from limited to hospitals alone.

> *"It’s a bit like a snowball rolling downhill."*

> **Majbrit Hindsgavl**, institution leader

Friday’s number of sick leave reports at the local private daycare and nursery in Odense’s Sankt Klemens district is a clear example of how widespread influenza has become.

- *"We’re sending children home every day right now. They might be healthy in the morning, but by afternoon, symptoms appear, and they have to go home,"* explains **Majbrit Hindsgavl**, leader of the daycare institution.

While it was primarily the children who were falling ill in previous weeks, now the staff are also affected.

Yesterday, 17 of the nearly 80 enrolled children were absent from the daycare. Additionally, three of the institution’s 16 employees were not present.

- *"So it’s going to be interesting to see how it develops next week, because it’s a bit like a snowball rolling downhill,"* says the institution leader.

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### Hard to Avoid

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In one of the daycare’s rooms, where the youngest children usually gather—normally around 14 kids—only nine were present on Friday.

- *"That’s where it spreads really easily, when one child puts a toy in their mouth, drops it, and another picks it up and puts it in their mouth,"* says **Majbrit Hindsgavl**.

This is why preventing transmission among the youngest is particularly challenging, especially since they require the most physical contact.

- *"And then we’re just coughing in their faces and so on."*

The staff do their best to teach the children proper hand hygiene and to cough or sneeze into their elbows, but they don’t always remember, she adds.

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### Advice to Prevent Infection

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Many of the recommendations to protect against influenza are similar to those during the coronavirus pandemic, says **Bolette Søborg** from the Statens Serum Institut:

- *"Influenza is an airborne infectious disease, so you should avoid people with symptoms. If you develop symptoms yourself, stay home to help prevent spreading. You should also ensure you’re symptom-free—meaning no fever in the last 24 hours—before returning to work or school."*

- *"Good hand hygiene is also important, and while hand sanitizer works, washing with soap and water is better. Most importantly, avoid people who are coughing or sneezing. If you need to cough or sneeze, do it into your elbow."*

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### Quiet Hope in the Snowstorm

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Anyone familiar with influenza and viruses knows that they thrive and spread more easily indoors than outdoors. However, recent weather conditions have not encouraged outdoor play, which may have contributed to increased transmission at **Skt. Klemens Private Daycare & Nursery**.

The snowstorm on Thursday and Friday might offer a quiet hope that the spread will slow down, says **Bolette Søborg** from SSI.

While the risk of infection is higher when we stay indoors, working from home generally means fewer interactions than when we’re at work or school.

- *"So there’s hope that it might have a positive effect,"* says **Bolette Søborg**.

According to her, this is not an exceptionally severe flu season, but one with *"a very high number of infections."*

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### Vaccinated Individuals Can Still Get Sick

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If someone vaccinated against influenza finds themselves—either sitting outside or lying under the covers at home—wondering how they could have caught the virus, the answer is that vaccination does not guarantee immunity.

This is explained by **Gitte Kronborg**, chief physician at the infectious disease department of Hvidovre Hospital.

- *"Vaccinated individuals can still get infected, as the vaccine offers protection between 40 and 70 percent."*

- *"The current strain of influenza is not identical to the one the vaccine targets, but it’s similar enough to provide some level of protection,"* says **Gitte Kronborg**.

Warning: This article was translated by a Large Language Model, in case of doubt, you can always visit the original source.