Belgrade Respiratory Infections Fall to 10,415 in a Week
Belgrade recorded 10,415 acute respiratory infections from October 12 to 18, 8.9 percent fewer than the week before. The highest rate is among children under four.
How many people in Belgrade are coughing and sneezing right now? The City Institute of Public Health has published its report for week 42, October 12 to 18, 2026, and it says 10,415 people reported an acute respiratory infection. The week before, the figure was higher.
How many people are sick, and is it better than a week ago?
The 10,415 reported cases give a rate of 618.9 per 100,000 residents. In week 41, October 5 to 11, there were 11,431 cases, so the drop is 8.9 percent.
Flu-like illness was reported in 538 people, or 32.0 per 100,000 residents. The previous week there were 579, a decline of 7.1 percent.
The Institute collects its data from community health centers, the Student Health Protection Institute, and the health services of the railways and the Interior Ministry.
Who gets sick most often: figures by age
Among those with acute respiratory infections, the age breakdown looks like this:
- ages 5 to 19: 31.0 percent
- ages 30 to 64: 30.0 percent
- under 4: 19.9 percent
- 65 and older: 10.0 percent
- ages 20 to 29: 9.0 percent
Share of cases is not the same as risk. By rate, the youngest group is hit hardest: among children under four it stands at 2,430.9 per 100,000.
Flu-like illness is distributed differently. Of the 538 reported cases, 278 people (51.7 percent) are between 20 and 64, 111 (20.6 percent) between 5 and 19, 77 (14.3 percent) are under four, and 72 (13.4 percent) are 65 or older. Here too the highest rate is among children under four, 90.2 per 100,000.
What the figure of 538 means, and what it does not
Mind the difference in terms. The Institute records the 538 as flu-like illness, which means these are not laboratory-confirmed cases. The report names no confirmed virus. We previously reported that seven cases of influenza had been confirmed across Serbia, and the Belgrade report does not change that.
The report also contains no data on hospitalizations, severe respiratory infections or deaths, so it cannot tell us how serious the infections were.
What can you do before you see a doctor?
In the same report, the Institute reminds readers of the general measures: avoid close contact with people who are ill, wash your hands regularly without touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and ventilate rooms. On strengthening resistance, it says:
“Strengthening the body’s general resistance means an adequate routine of work and rest and a diet rich in vitamins.”
If you have a chronic condition, are pregnant, or have a child who gets sick often, it is best to talk to your family doctor about the vaccine.
Which flu vaccines does Belgrade have this season?
For the 2026/2027 season Belgrade has two inactivated trivalent vaccines:
- Tor Vax Flu for adults over 18, one 0.5 ml dose
- Vaxigrip for pregnant women and children from 6 months to 18 years, also one 0.5 ml dose
Children from 6 months to 9 years getting a flu vaccine for the first time receive two doses, four weeks apart. The composition covers the strains A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1), A/Darwin/1454/2025 (H3N2) and B/Tokyo/EIS13-175/2025.
Protection develops 2 to 3 weeks after vaccination and lasts one season. Priority goes to pregnant women, chronic patients older than 6 months, people over 65 and health workers. Vaccination is given at the City Institute of Public Health, Bulevar despota Stefana 54a. Check opening hours and appointments on the Institute’s official page before you go.
