Paweł Grzesiowski, head of GIS, emphasised during a press conference that anyone currently showing symptoms can remain contagious for up to a week if they are not taking antiviral medication.
“Those who are unwell must unfortunately skip shared dinners or Christmas celebrations. However, antiviral treatment can shorten the period of contagiousness, and a follow-up antigen test can confirm when it is safe to rejoin others,” he told reporters.
Despite the rise in cases, GIS does not expect the holiday period to trigger a sudden surge in infections.
Aktualna sytuacja epidemiologiczna w zakresie infekcji sezonowych oraz bezpieczna żywność na święta były tematami...
Opublikowany przez Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny Poniedziałek, 22 grudnia 2025
Grzesiowski noted that the peak is projected for the end of January.
Most infections occur among children under 14, who are currently on school holidays, reducing the number of contacts compared with classroom settings, where hundreds of children interact daily.
The Inspectorate also reminded the public that vaccination remains the most effective protection against influenza, including the latest virus subtypes, and that flu vaccines in Poland are widely available at pharmacies and other healthcare facilities.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has issued a global alert over the spread of the new influenza A(H3N2) subclade K across Europe, East Asia, and parts of North America.
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Source: GIS/Polish Radio English Section/IAR/WHO