The flu claims lives in Romania
The Public Health Institute has announced that, in Romania, several people have died from the flu this winter. The Health Minister has warned that the peak will be registered in February
Mihai Pelin, 14.01.2019, 12:25
Since the start of the cold season in Romania, the flu has made several victims, with dozens of cases confirmed. The latest person to have died was a 69 year old man from Prahova County, in the south, who had contracted an A-H1 virus. The man, with pre-existing conditions, had not been vaccinated against the flu virus. Previously, an 11 month baby died in a hospital in Bucharest, where he had come in an extremely bad condition, with respiratory failure and all the vitals modified. He got the diagnosis of type A influenza and was intubated but, unfortunately, the treatment did not work.
The Health Minister Sorina Pintea has stated that we cannot talk about a flu epidemic yet, but the virus has indeed registered a more rapid spread lately. She has stressed that vaccination is the safest and most effective way to prevent the flu. As of Monday, when school started again after the winter holidays, the number of infections might go up. According to physicians, the triage that can be done by teachers in class is extremely important, as this can help avoid the emergence of hotbeds in schools.
On the other hand, self-medication is a factor that aggravates medical conditions, instead of solving them. Medical consults are necessary, and the sick ones must be isolated. Also, personal hygiene is of utmost importance, so people must wash their hands with soap, use tissues against sneezing and coughing and observe a healthy life-style. A diet including lots of fruit and vegetables, physical activity and rest are extremely important in preventing flu-related diseases.
The flu has a sudden and violent onset, is caught by exposure to droplets from an infected persons coughs or sneezes and symptoms become visible within 1 to 4 days after exposure, lasting for up to a week. The main symptoms are fever, dry cough, muscle pain, abdominal pain and nausea. Seasonal flu is caused by human influenza viruses, which affect the respiratory paths, more precisely the nose, throat, bronchia and sometimes the lungs.
According to specialists, complications may include pneumonia, ear infection, dehydration and aggravation of pre-existing conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. This season, 1.2 million people have been vaccinated against the flu, with vaccines distributed by the Health Ministry. According to a study published late last year, half of the Romanian citizens are in favour of vaccination, but 60% of them have never received a flu shot. On the other hand, 45% of the participants in the study believe that information campaigns are necessary. In the 2017-2018 cold season, 129 people died from the flu virus.
