Flu Epidemic at a Peak

In the past three days, almost 800 patients were examined at the Infectious Diseases Clinic. In 80% of patients, type A flu was diagnosed.

A little less than 800 people have been examined at the Dr. Fran Mihaljevic Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb in the past three days. In 80 percent of the patients, type A flu was diagnosed. Due to the large number of patients, doctors had to extend their shifts, so some worked for 24 hours and patients waited an average of four hours to be examined.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of the flu are dry cough, high temperature of up to 40 degrees Celsius, aches in the whole body, feebleness and dehydration.

Due to complications that occur with the flu, especially in people with a weakened immune system or already infected by a chronic disease, a dozen people have been hospitalised and are being treated by IVs.

The most dangerous complication that occurs with the flu is pneumonia – the hospital’s director, Antun Beus, told Javno.

More patients than last year

He stressed that there were more patients this year than last year. The reason was not the more dangerous type, but the fact that a fewer number of people had had their flu shots this year, since last year people feared the bird flu.

During the day, most patients in the hospital were children and nights were reserved for adults. Children are most susceptible to the flu and are usually the first to become infected, which is a sign of a breakout. The children then transfer the disease to their parents and friends.

Beus said that the flu epidemic had reached its peak and an increase in the number of patients was not expected. He believes there will be no more cases of flu in March.