Ángeles Cruz Martínez
La Jornada Newspaper
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, p. 7
Acute respiratory infections are increasing, as they do every January. Until the first week of the month, cases of covid-19 are rare, with one percent positivity in laboratory tests; influenza, considered by specialists a gripotahas increased since November.
To date, 10 percent of tests are positive for the infection, according to the weekly report of the General Directorate of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (Ssa).
So far, the most obvious are common colds caused by enterovirus/rhinovirus, which account for 39 percent of infections by other respiratory germs.
These can go unnoticed due to the absence of symptoms and are also expressed with mild manifestations (nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, cough), according to information from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) of the United States.
Pulmonologist Francisco Navarro Reynoso explained that people vulnerable to diseases that weaken the defense system (diabetes, cancer, asthma, pulmonary emphysema, heart conditions) have a greater risk of serious complications from any respiratory infection, so a complete test (viral panel) must be performed to determine the type of pathogen present and the ideal treatment.
This most vulnerable group also includes children under 5 years of age and adults aged 60 and over.
Accelerates influenza
He pointed out that the gripota caused by influenza is characterized by “many and strong symptoms.” In addition to severe nasal congestion and cough, those affected have body and throat pain, and fever. Meanwhile, covid-19 does not cause flu symptoms, but rather general malaise with mild body pain.
He stressed that most respiratory illnesses are caused by viruses, so the prescription of antibiotics is not indicated.
The Ssa pointed out that serious symptoms of influenza and covid-19 can be avoided with the vaccines available in the health sector.
In the case of covid-19, last Friday’s report from the Directorate of Epidemiology indicates that the accumulated disease burden in 2025 is 49 percent lower than that of 2024.
