Outpatient centres for respiratory infections
With the number of flu and viral infection cases on the rise, new outpatient centres have been opened in Romania
Leyla Cheamil, 07.02.2025, 13:50
Romania has declared a state of epidemiological alert due to the large number of respiratory infections. In recent weeks, cases of flu, viral infections and pneumonia have multiplied and exceed the average number reported in previous seasons. Hospitals have introduced restrictions on visitors, and healthcare authorities urge people to observe hygiene rules, avoid crowded places and keep people with flu symptoms away from the community. The health ministry says daily observational triage should be organised in schools, and children with symptoms should be sent back home.
The health minister Alexandru Rafila explained that the flu has seasonal evolution in the northern and southern hemispheres, respectively. “Of course it is a greater effort, there are longer waiting times, but this happens absolutely everywhere, we cannot help but face problems in Romania as well. We are doing everything in our power and in the hands of local public healthcare authorities to be able to manage this situation in a favourable way,” Alexandru Rafila said.
As the number of cases is growing from one week to the next, and hospital emergency rooms are overcrowded, more than 300 outpatient centres for flu and respiratory infection cases have been opened throughout the country. The health ministry has made public a list of the units available for Romanians with such problems.
The measure is designed to reduce the pressure on hospital emergency rooms, after the number of virus cases doubled last week alone. More precisely, over 170,000 cases of respiratory infections were reported last week, and 15 people died from the flu, bringing the total number of casualties since the beginning of the season to 35.
The health minister Alexandru Rafila says that every year during the flu season the situation is complicated both for adults and children, but this is the largest number of cases reported in recent years. He also added that patients with symptoms should first of all contact their family physicians, and that they should only go to the permanent centres or the outpatient units if their health worsens or worrying symptoms appear. Mr. Rafila said he was not in favour of closing schools, but emphasised that kids with respiratory infections should be kept at home. In his opinion, he added, the best solution is to keep teaching activities running. (AMP)
