Hospitals remain saturated despite the decrease in flu

Two days of waiting in the emergency room, sick people accumulated in hallways, a gym equipped to receive patients, three weeks of waiting in primary care…

These scenes of saturation these weeks would be experiencingaccording to the CSIF and SATSE unions, despite the decrease in flu cases that has been occurring since mid-December 2025 in health centers and that, since the week that ended January 11, has also been recorded in hospitals.

According to the latest report published by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), detections in primary care have continued to fall, although at a slower pace than at the end of December. Between January 5 and 11, the rate has dropped to 75.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants –83.9 the previous week– and the positivity of the tests from 34.9% to 28.8%.

Furthermore, in parallel and for the first time since the epidemic began, the hospitalization rate for this virus has decreased. from 11.2 to 8.1 cases/100,000, and positivity, 42.8% to 35.9%.

Now, this good data would not be translating in a decongestion of the health system. CSIF attributes this persistence of tension to “bad weather” and “the diseases associated with this time of year”: the rate of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) increased from 553.6 cases to 606.7 cases/100,000 in the last week and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) decreased, but are still at 22.5/100,000. (26.2 the previous week). Likewise, they add, it would also be influencing “the lack of personnel.”

In it Nursing Union (SATSE) share this diagnosis and denounce that ““Saturation situations occur, patient complaints multiply and nurses cannot cope.”a context generated by the lack of resources and professionals which is repeated “as soon as there is a greater influx of people due to flu, Covid and other respiratory viruses.”

The most affected communities

On this occasion, they detail, they are professionals from hospitals in Andalusia, Murcia, the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Community, Extremadura, Galicia, the Community of Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha and Ceuta who have raised the alarm in recent days by confirming that, in their respective centers, The emergency rooms and floors are full, the rooms are doubled and the staff has to extend their day or double shifts..

Furthermore, they warn that this context generates a increasing discomfort among patients, who do not understand that they must wait for many hours in emergency rooms, hallways or boxes that do not meet the necessary conditions of space, silence or privacy, which creates a climate of tension that, at times, unjustifiably “explodes” into aggressive or offensive behavior against professionals.

In the case of CSIF, report problems in Madrid, Andalusia, Valencian Community, Castilla-La Mancha, Cantabria and Aragon.

Solutions

For all these reasons, both unions ask that solutions be taken. SATSE demands that the different public health officials ““Leave your offices and visit the emergency services.” so that they can confirm that situations like those that are being suffered these days “they cannot and should not be repeated in the future,” Therefore, it is necessary that they take measures such as increasing the number of nurses.

In CSIF they demand the “immediate publication of the official figures of winter reinforcements by hospitals, areas, categories and levels of care”, the “effective reinforcement and evaluable workforce in Primary Care, hospitalization and emergencies, to alleviate the tension in the SNS and prepare it in case of new discharges of flu and respiratory infections during the rest of the winter”, a “National Strategy coordination of reinforcements, directed by the Ministry of Health” and the “urgent review of the personnel ratiosadjusted to the real pressure that is causing the cold wave”.

A season that started early

It is worth remembering that this flu season, which began early – about a month – in the northern hemisphere due, in part, to the spread of a flu mutation, known as subclade k H3N2, could finish earlier than expected also.

However, that does not mean that the epidemic is over or that the risk of contagion has disappeared. The recommendations made by the authorities of get vaccinated and protect yourself –especially if it is vulnerable– are still valid.

The dose against the virus, which is the most effective weapon available to avoid serious cases, is recommended for the following groups:

• 60 years or more.
• Minors under 60 years of age with risk conditions.
• Pregnant women.
• Health center staff.
• Workers of essential public services such as State Security Forces and Corps or firefighters.
• Smoking people.
• People with direct occupational exposure to animals.
• Child population.
• Minors between 6 and 59 months.

At the beginning of December last year, the first results of the Sanofi Gripometer 2025-2026, which revealed that the percentage of people over 65 years old already vaccinated against the flu this year in Spain reached the 56.1%while in the population between 60 and 64 years old it reaches 24.7%both figures very similar to those last year on the same dates, located in the 56.3 and 25.3%, respectively.

Hygiene measures

In addition, there are hygiene measures that can be applied, especially if you are in the presence of very vulnerable people. These are some tips from the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES):

1. Wear a mask if you have symptomsespecially in poorly ventilated spaces, and in the presence of vulnerable people or when working with patients with compatible conditions.
2. Wash your hands frequently: before eating, handling food, after leaving the bathroom and after blowing your nose or coughing.
3. Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing: If you can with your arm or a tissue instead of your hand.
4. Use disposable tissues: Throw them away after each use, do not store used ones or leave them on tables or nightstands.
5. Avoid kisses and very close contactas well as sharing glasses, cutlery, towels and other objects that may have been in contact with saliva or secretions.
6. If there is someone in your house with the flu, clean common surfaces more frequently (doorknobs, sinks, handles) with the usual cleaning products and ventilate the rooms more often by opening the windows.
7. Lead a healthy life: sleep well, eat healthy, drink water, physically active, avoid alcoholic beverages and tobacco. It is also advisable to shower with hot water and humidify the air.