The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, announced on Friday, January 17, that the number of virus cases had doubled. He also assured that flu vaccination can be continued this month as well.
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“We are in the middle of virus season and if last week we had about 45,000 cases of sanitary viruses, in this week’s report the number has doubled, there are around 90,000 cases of viruses, but we are still below the average of the last 5 years and below what was recorded last year, in the same period of time. There were over 100,000 cases last year, but we are noticing, on the one hand, an increase in the number of clinically diagnosed flu cases, from around 4,500 we reached over 5,000 cases this week nationally“, declared the Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, in Iasi, according to News.ro.
Also, the minister emphasized that it is necessary to prepare the health system on three levels, first of all hospital assistance, which would allow the organization of hospitals, to be able to take over patients with respiratory viruses.
Rafila spoke about the potential reopening of the evaluation centers that we set up during the COVID-19 pandemic, that is, the specialized outpatient services that allow investigations, including radiology.
Last but not least, the minister says that the third paler is related to family medicine, more precisely to the permanent centers, which are to be checked by the Directorate of Public Health.
The minister also announced that he is evaluating the stocks of Oseltamivir, the antiviral drug that is only given in flu.
“I appeal both to the population and to doctors not to prescribe and not to take the medicine that is only given in flu for a trivial virus. It, like any antiviral drug, has certain contraindications, it has a degree of toxicity, and then we must use it exclusively in case of flui”, said Rafila.
Regarding the school activity, he recommends that it be carried out in a regime as close as possible to the normal one. However, children with colds who have respiratory viruses should be isolated at home and receive the necessary treatment.
Last but not least, Rafila assured that the flu vaccination can be continued during this month. However, while cases may increase or remain the same in the coming weeks, the minister says the situation will enter a downward trend.
“The number of flu cases is still not that high and considering that 10-14 days is the period required to obtain immunity after vaccination, vaccination can be continued during this period. The vaccine is available by recommendation from the family doctor, free of charge for children and adolescents, for pregnant women, people over 65 years old and those with chronic diseasesRafila also said.
