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Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst shares insights on the upcoming flu season, drawing parallels with Australia‘s previous winter and sounding a cautious note on the local situation.
Marc Van Ranst, a prominent Belgian virologist, recently spoke to VRT about his predictions for the upcoming flu season in Belgium. He believes that the influenza strains currently circulating in Europe are similar to those seen in Australia during their winter season (our summer).
"There’s an expectation for this season to be predominantly influenza A, with a lesser amount of influenza B, and approximately the same strains," Van Ranst stated. "In Australia, they experienced a relatively normal flu season."
When asked if Belgium could expect a similar situation, he responded, "It’s not possible to predict this at the moment, but there’s no evidence to suggest it will be an unusually severe flu season."
Festive Season Could Lead to Increased Infections
Van Ranst expects an uptick in infections. "A typical flu season lasts for about 10 weeks, and we’re just beginning now," he told Het Laatste Nieuws. "Schools are closed, but we’re in the midst of the festive season, a time when many people gather. This will contribute to the spread of the flu. We can already predict that the numbers will increase in the coming weeks."
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