Hong Kong inflection: an increase in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections has been recorded in Russia

The incidence rate of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza in Russia began to rise for the first time in three weeks, according to data from the Smorodintsev Influenza Research Institute. The epidemic threshold was exceeded by 20% or more in Kirov and Yaroslavl. Rospotrebnadzor reported a 1.5-fold increase in the incidence due to the return of Russians to their work schedule. The virus is spreading especially actively among children and students, experts said.

The number of cases is growing

The incidence of influenza and acute respiratory diseases increased in the third week of 2026 (from January 12 to January 18), the Influenza Research Institute reported. Now it stands at 56.4 cases per 10,000 people, and the previous week this figure stopped at 38.8. In late December and early January, the incidence rate decreased, and now for the first time an increase is being demonstrated.

In Kirov and Yaroslavl, the epidemic threshold has been exceeded by 20% or more, which indicates the rapid spread of the virus. At the same time, the Department of Rospotrebnadzor of the Kirov region assessed the excess of the epidemic threshold in the region as insignificant. According to the agency, the Hong Kong flu dominates the region, 95% of all cases have not been vaccinated.

According to the Influenza Research Institute, it is the Hong Kong flu that has now become dominant in at least 46 Russian cities. In addition, the number of acute respiratory viral infections is increasing, but the incidence of influenza has even decreased. The number of people hospitalized with this diagnosis also decreased, 0.40 cases per 10,000 population (0.51 a week earlier).

"The flu situation in the country remained unfavorable," the experts of the Influenza Research Institute believe. — High frequency of PCR diagnosis of influenza... against the background of low SARS rates, including SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus infection. — Ed.), despite the decrease in the total incidence of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections, indicates the continuation of the flu epidemic in the Russian Federation."

Where the increase in the number of cases was recorded

In the first working week in Russia, an increase in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza was recorded 1.5 times, Rospotrebnadzor said. This is due to the return of Russians to work and study.

"In the third week, about 15.2 thousand cases of influenza were registered, which is almost at the level of the previous week. A(H3N2) (Hong Kong flu) continues to dominate among the strains. — Ed.), — reported in Rospotrebnadzor. "In the first working week of 2026, there was also a slight increase in the incidence of COVID—19 - more than 5.4 thousand cases were registered."

In Moscow, compared with the last working week, the incidence of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections decreased 1.6 times, and the proportion of influenza tripled. The number of hospitalizations has also decreased.

"According to the results of monitoring the circulation of influenza and ARVI pathogens, there is a predominance of viruses of non—influenza etiology, in particular rhinoviruses and seasonal coronaviruses," the Department of Rospotrebnadzor in Moscow reported.

2.3 thousand cases in the Trans-Baikal Territory: This figure is 2.8 times higher than last week's data. In the region, Hong Kong flu was detected in 44.8% of cases, SARS in 38.2%, and covid in 17%. The incidence of COVID-19 in Transbaikalia increased 2.2 times compared to the previous week, in almost all cases the disease proceeds as SARS.

Slightly healthy: flu incidence has increased six-fold in Russia

Experts expect the peak of infections after the New Year

An increase in the incidence is also recorded in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, the local Rospotrebnadzor reported: 2.4 times in the Northern capital and 1.8 times in the region. And in the Vladimir region, there was an increase in the incidence of COVID-19: 66.7% more people fell ill than in the previous week. The vast majority of cases were in the form of acute respiratory viral infections, and in 13.6% — community-acquired pneumonia.

"During the week, 25.4 thousand cases of acute respiratory infections were registered. This is 18.2% higher than last week, but 13% lower than the long—term average," said Rospotrebnadzor in the Sverdlovsk region.

43.9% of cases in the region are children. The situation is similar in the LPR. There, the incidence in the first working week doubled, but this figure is below the epidemic threshold by more than 48%.

In the Belgorod region, 11.13% more cases were registered, this figure is 31% lower than the epidemic threshold. The proportion of children was 42%. In addition, an increase in the incidence rate was observed in the Orenburg region (twice) and Buryatia (2.3 times).

SARS—carrying children

The rise in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza is due to the fact that Russians have returned to schools and work, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Education Gennady Onishchenko told Izvestia.

— The main combustible material is our children and students, — said the epidemiologist. — They trigger this mechanism (of spreading the disease. — Ed.).

Onishchenko said that an increase in the number of cases of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza in Russia was expected in the third decade of January. And in Europe, this process did not stop — there were no long vacations.

According to Gennady Onishchenko, it is too late to get vaccinated against the flu now.

— Vaccination can no longer be done, it's useless, — the expert said.

To prevent infection, you should sleep normally, eat right, take vitamins, and dress according to the weather, Onishchenko stressed. It is better for those who are ill to consult a doctor, stay at home, avoiding contact with other people.

— In some regions, when the rise of diseases begins, and it continues, restrictions on holding mass events are immediately introduced, — said Gennady Onishchenko. — There is a natural process going on and it is usual for this period of the year. But we must behave not normally, but cautiously — in compliance with non-burdensome, but quite effective rules.

The incidence of acute respiratory viral infections has increased dramatically in Russia: symptoms, treatment and prevention

Doctors recommend wearing masks and washing your hands frequently.

The peak incidence of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, according to the expert, has already occurred in some regions — in December.

— It is already clear that in those regions where vaccination has been taken seriously, for example in Mordovia, there is an upsurge, but not so intense, — Onishchenko emphasized.

A vaccinated person can also become infected, the doctor noted. However, he will tolerate the disease more easily than an unvaccinated person.

Back in December, the epidemic threshold for the incidence of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections was exceeded in 21 cities, the Influenza Research Institute reported. Several Russian regions even imposed quarantine, Andrey Pozdnyakov, an infectious disease specialist at Invitro, reminded Izvestia.

— Some people have a classic flu clinic: sudden onset, acute fever to 39 °C and above, severe intoxication, headache, muscle and joint pain. By the end of the first or beginning of the second day, a cough appears, which becomes annoying and painful," the doctor noted.

The Hong Kong flu is quite volatile and highly contagious, Andrey Pozdnyakov emphasized. In addition, the weather in December was warm without frost, which creates favorable conditions for the circulation of any respiratory infections.