Minister of Health, Presidency and Emergency, Antonio SanzShe announced on Friday that Andalusia will activate its “action plan” against influenza “to overcome the virulence expected this season” and will publish an order next Monday, December 1. … Recommending the use of masks in health centers and nursing homes. Sanz made these statements after the extraordinary meeting of the committee Regional Council of the National Health SystemIn which the Ministry of Health included an information point about recommendations for infection control in the 2025-2026 season, for later review by the Public Health Authority.
“Andalusia will implement its own action plan against influenza with which we anticipate and protect in a special way the most vulnerable people against the virulence expected this season,” Sanz confirmed in a statement. As detailed, the latest data recorded in Andalusia “reflects a rise in influenza virus positivity compared to the previous two weeks, reaching 21.6%, although Andalusia is still below the epidemic threshold.”
In this sense, the head of health explained this This season’s influenza epidemic comes four to seven weeks early Compared to previous years due to the H3N2 virus, which was not prevalent in recent seasons, which may cause a decrease in immunity in people.
In the face of this situation, the Ministry has been working “for weeks on a series of measures to enhance the protection of Andalusians,” including improving viral surveillance and increasing the number of expert doctors who transmit information. Increase in indicators by which the stress of care resulting from acute respiratory infections during emergencies is measured; and increasing vaccination coverage of at-risk groups, for which all health professionals, professional associations, and associations of patients and the elderly are mobilized.
Masks
Within the framework of this plan, the Ministry of Health will issue on Monday a To recommend the use of masks Among employees and users of health centers (hospitals and health centres) and social health centers (nursing homes, centers for persons with disabilities, etc.), public and private, as a basic preventive measure against the transmission of acute respiratory infections.
In addition, the management of these centers will be asked to “evaluate the mandatory use of masks in their emergency plans, in accordance with the local epidemiological situation.” Finally, the plan also includes promoting specific measures to inform citizens and raise their awareness about measures that protect against influenza such as mask use, hand hygiene, indoor ventilation and social isolation, that is, avoiding contact with other people, especially vulnerable people, when we are sick.