Puerto Rico’s public health landscape shows significant improvement as health authorities confirm influenza cases have remained below the epidemic threshold for the second consecutive week. During epidemiological week 6 (February 8-14, 2026), the island documented 2,070 new influenza infections, bringing the seasonal total to 52,713 cases in the 2025-2026 season.
Health Chief Víctor M. Ramos Otero celebrated the milestone, stating this trend represents a crucial step toward officially declaring an end to the epidemic. ‘If we continue this trend into the fourth week, we will meet the other epidemiological criteria,’ Ramos Otero announced in an official statement.
The substantial vaccination campaign appears to be driving this positive development, with 426,008 doses administered this season—representing 76,332 more inoculations than the same period last year. This increased participation reflects strengthened public health strategies and community engagement efforts.
Despite overall improvement, authorities reported concerning data points: 47.8% of cases occurred in the pediatric population (ages 0-19), while the hospitalization rate held steady at 4.2%. The season has accumulated 162 confirmed influenza fatalities, including 12 new deaths reported in the latest weekly data. Additionally, 23 school outbreaks were identified during week 6, primarily concentrated in the Bayamón (8), Arecibo (4), and Mayagüez (3) regions.
The Health Department’s community-focused approach has included 103 outreach events across municipalities, bringing vaccines directly to vulnerable populations. New vaccination initiatives are scheduled for March 2-6 across various island regions.
Health officials continue emphasizing preventive measures including frequent handwashing, respiratory etiquette, mask-wearing when symptomatic, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals.