Romania is bracing up for a flu epidemic

Health Minister Sorina Pintea has cautioned that Romania is facing a flu epidemic against the background of an increasing number of people infected

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Leyla Cheamil, 21.01.2019, 13:36

Influenza is taking its toll on the Romanians and the authorities said that the number of people infected is on a daily rise. The number of fatalities from respiratory complications have prompted experts to declare the onset of the flu season, which has also proved its epidemic character in recent days.

Health Minister Sorina Pintea has pointed out that the people who were killed by the disease had only one thing in common — they were not vaccinated. According to the Romanian minister, 1,255,000 people from risk groups have been inoculated. Data made available at this moment shows that the number is very low as the Romanians decided not to get the anti-flu vaccine, the Romanian minister has also pointed out. Doctors are urging the population to get vaccinated saying that immunization is the most effective method through which we can protect ourselves from infection, mainly in the case of the most vulnerable categories, such as elderly people, children, pregnant women and people suffering from chronic diseases.

Health Minister Sorina Pintea has told a TV station that Romania is facing a flu epidemic: “We have already had an epidemic week and we stand good chances that on Thursday, when we are going to present the data released by the National Institute for Statistics, to be in the second week. And for this reason, the measures we, jointly with the experts, have communicated to the public healthcare directorates and the Education Ministry are measures usually taken when you are facing an epidemic. And as a recommendation to those presenting symptoms, the first thing they have to do is pay a visit to a GP and if possible remain indoor, away from crowded places. Also important is to stay away from self-medication.”

According to Minister Pintea, measures aimed at keeping infections at bay in schools and other education institutions are of equal importance. “I have called on public healthcare authorities to monitor the situation at county level,” Minister Pintea has also said, adding that kindergartens and other education institutions ready to implement daily triages will be briefed on a daily basis on the evolution of this phenomenon for a better assessment of the measures to be taken so as to prevent the spreading of the flu virus.

Depending on the situation in the area, medical units have the responsibility to restrict people’s access to hospitals and other medical units, particularly to high-risk wards, the Romanian Health Minister has also said. Sorina Pintea has made an appeal to the population to strictly apply expert recommendations to avoid the spread of infection. Experts recommend visits to the GP in the case of people showing symptoms suggesting flu infection and possible hospitalization.