If the bulletin is missing, the viruses are there and the ailments increase. Pregliasco said he expected a season "less heavy than recent years", however with "at least 12-14 million cases expected", a range "to be better profiled based on temperature trends". Considering that the latest Influnews report from the Lombardy Region indicates around 84,500 weekly cases of acute respiratory infection, we can think of over 500 thousand cases in Italy", calculates the expert
The 2026-2027 flu season has begun but the weekly RespiVirNet bulletin that was released by the Higher Institute of Health every Friday is missing. The report has been at a standstill for 8 months, when Regions and autonomous Provinces suspended the data flow that feeds the surveillance system "awaiting regulation in line with the provisions of the current regulations for the management of personal data", stated the latest ISS bulletin of 6 March. Virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco ventures an estimate for Adnkronos Salute: "Considering that the latest Influnews report from the Lombardy Region indicates around 84,500 weekly cases of acute respiratory infection, proportioning the Lombard data on a national scale we can think of over 500 thousand cases in Italy", calculates the expert.
Pregliasco: "Respiratory infections are increasing"
"Respiratory infections are increasing", even if "the flu has not yet reached predominant circulation", explains the director of the School of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine at the State University of Milan. “It is reasonable to expect further growth in infections as the cold season progresses, although we cannot predict precisely when the peak will arrive.” In the forecast provided in September during the usual Milanese meeting promoted by Assosalute - National Self-Medication Drugs Association, Pregliasco said he expected a "less heavy season than in recent years", however with "at least 12-14 million cases expected", a range "to be better profiled based on temperature trends". But where are we now? "The most recent data from the Lombardy Region tell us that in the last week", the 44th of 2026 (26 October - 1 November), "84,552 cases of acute respiratory infections were estimated with an incidence of 8.4 cases per thousand inhabitants, an increase compared to the previous week" and higher than that of 7.28 cases per thousand that last year the RespiVirNet bulletin reported at a national level for the same week 44 of 2025 (October 27-November 2).
“The most affected are small children"
"We are still in a phase of basal intensity - observes Pregliasco - but the viruses are already circulating, they are making themselves felt" and as always the most affected are small children: in Lombardy under 5 years of age the incidence is "25 cases per thousand assisted, approximately 3 times higher than the general one". In short, "we have entered the season of respiratory viruses, but be careful: not everything we call flu is really flu", specifies the doctor. "The Lombard bulletin offers us an interesting photograph. Among the samples analyzed by sentinel doctors - he explains - rhinovirus was identified in 35.3%, parainfluenza viruses in 23.5% and adenoviruses in 11.8%. Seasonal coronaviruses and Sars-CoV-2", therefore Covid, "were also identified in 5.9% of the samples. Surveillance in emergency rooms confirms significant circulation of rhinoviruses and enteroviruses. Influenza A was found in 2.1% of the swabs carried out in the emergency room and influenza B in 0.7%. These data explain to us why so many people have coughs, colds and sore throats without necessarily having the flu". Which "is already present, but for now represents a minority share of respiratory infections". To complete the picture, "alongside respiratory viruses there are also gastrointestinal viruses, such as noroviruses, which cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. They are different infections - Pregliasco points out - which can circulate at the same time, especially in families and communities".
"The viruses have already arrived and we should not be alarmed"
At the moment "we are in the warming phase of the virus season: it is not yet the moment of maximum flu circulation, but it is already time to pay attention", recommends the virologist. To manage these first infections, "the first rule is not to rush to heal: our body needs time to react. For coughs, colds and fever, rest, good hydration and the appropriate use of symptomatic medications, when necessary, are important. The cough can continue even after the other symptoms have disappeared. It does not automatically mean that bacterial bronchitis has appeared or that an antibiotic is needed", clarifies Pregliasco. "For intestinal viruses - he advises - the priority is to avoid dehydration. You need to drink frequently, even in small sips, using oral rehydrating solutions when necessary, especially for children and the elderly. There is no need for prolonged fasting or particularly restrictive diets. You can gradually start eating again according to your tolerance. However, greater caution is needed in frail people, in the elderly and in those suffering from chronic diseases".
When you need to see a doctor
"In most cases these infections resolve spontaneously, but there are signs that should not be underestimated", warns the expert. "A fever that persists or reappears after improvement, a cough accompanied by difficulty breathing, chest pain or a worsening of the general condition require medical evaluation. For intestinal disorders the main danger is dehydration, especially in young children and the elderly. Attention should be paid to the reduction in the amount of urine, marked weakness and the inability to take or retain liquids." In general, "frail people should contact their doctor early." And "in case of severe breathing difficulty or altered state of consciousness, urgent assistance is required."
Prevention
Pregliasco once again places the emphasis on prevention: "This is the right time to get vaccinated against the flu, especially for the elderly, frail people and categories for which vaccination is recommended". The other measures are also important: "Wash your hands, ventilate rooms, avoid going to crowded places when you are sick and protect the most vulnerable people", when necessary "even using a mask". What about drugs? What mistakes to avoid? "The first mistake - analyzes the specialist - is to resort to antibiotics at the first cough. Antibiotics do not fight viruses and do not shorten the duration of colds, flu or viral gastroenteritis. The second mistake is to take different products against flu symptoms at the same time, without checking the active ingredients. You risk taking the same drug twice, for example paracetamol, with possible serious consequences. Also be careful about the excessive use of anti-inflammatories, especially when you are dehydrated due to vomiting or diarrhea. Another mistake is to try to immediately stop diarrhea with antidiarrheal drugs, without evaluating the situation. In the presence of high fever, blood in the stool or in children, these medicines require different evaluations". Ultimately, Pregliasco comments, "the rule is simple: treat the symptoms when necessary, but without turning a viral illness into a competition to see who takes the most drugs".
