Lorraine Williamson
Spain is heading into mid-December with a flu season accelerating far faster than expected. Spain flu cases in 2025 have doubled in a single week—an early-season spike not seen in recent winters—and the pressure is already visible across clinics and emergency departments.
Health surveillance data shows the national flu rate leaping from 78 to 164.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in just seven days. That level surpasses the peak of the last three winters, a sign that this year’s virus is circulating earlier and hitting harder.
Doctors warn that the rapid growth curve leaves little buffer for the weeks ahead. Historically, Spain’s most intense flu activity falls between late December and early February, meaning the current wave is arriving before the usual Christmas peak.
Children at the heart of the outbreak
Paediatricians are reporting the steepest rise. Among c
While older adults show a gentler rise, they remain the group most likely to suffer complications and prolonged recovery. Doctors say they are already seeing more frail patients with breathing difficulties and secondary infections.
Hospitals feel the strain early
Admissions linked to flu have also almost doubled, reaching 7.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. Roughly 20% of admitted patients develop pneumonia, a complication that often extends hospital stays and drives up demand for respiratory support.
Winter pressure is therefore arriving sooner than hospitals anticipated. In several regions, emergency rooms have expanded triage areas, and some routine procedures are being reassessed to protect capacity.
A worrying death toll
Spain has already recorded an estimated 8,435 deaths from respiratory infections this season. Public-health specialists fear the number may exceed 9,000 in the coming weeks—higher than in recent years.
Experts highlight that the severity of this year’s flu strain, combined with the speed of transmission, has created a more dangerous landscape for vulnerable groups.
Masks, vaccines and regional action
The Ministry of Health and Spain’s autonomous communities have activated a winter response strategy. People are again being encouraged to wear masks in crowded places—including public transport, hospitals and shopping centres.
Vaccination is the centrepiece of prevention. Andalucía has launched one of the most accessible programmes in the country, offering walk-in flu vaccinations in more than 40 shopping centres. The region has already administered 1.73 million doses, surpassing last year’s uptake.
Officials say increasing vaccination coverage is critical to slowing the wave and preventing hospital overload.
Other viruses add to the pressure
The flu surge is not happening in isolation. Spain is currently reporting around 840 respiratory infections per 100,000 inhabitants, driven largely by bronchiolitis in young children. COVID-19 remains at low but rising levels, with four cases per 100,000, enough to complicate winter hospital planning.
Doctors say the combination of flu, bronchiolitis and COVID-19 creates a “three-virus winter”, similar to patterns seen in 2022–2023 across Europe.
Schools, families and clinics on the frontline
Schools and nurseries are proving major transmission hubs, with many parents reporting entire classes missing multiple pupils. GPs also note a sharp rise in staff absences as healthcare workers themselves fall ill.
Authorities continue to urge basic precautions—handwashing, staying home when sick, and mask-wearing where appropriate—to reduce the viral load in public spaces.
Looking ahead as infections climb
With the holiday season approaching and mobility set to increase, health officials expect infection numbers to keep rising. The challenge now is slowing the pace enough to prevent December and January from becoming unmanageable for Spain’s health system.
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