EBN- Romanian authorities have issued a warning after flu cases increased for three consecutive weeks.
The European news network Euronews reported that the National Institute of Public Health reported 133,600 cases of respiratory infections associated with influenza in one week (from January 20 to 26), an increase of more than 6% compared to the previous week. So far, 22 people have died from the virus.
“These cases have not been vaccinated against influenza,” Romanian Health Minister Alexandru Ravila said, stressing that he believes the situation, although unprecedented, is not serious enough to require widespread restrictions such as quarantine.
Alexandro Ravella added that the focus is on measures to mitigate the spread of the virus and that social and economic activities can continue normally.
However, the increase in the number of cases has raised concerns about the pressure on Romania’s health care system, especially in areas such as Bucharest, Cluj and Brasov.
Hospitals across the country have subsequently been instructed to limit the number of visitors in an attempt to limit the spread of the flu virus.
“It is recommended to limit visits to what is absolutely necessary and to reduce the number of people visiting patients to a minimum,” said Cristina Gormaneanu, spokeswoman for the Emergency Hospital in Craiova County.
In a related context, clinical influenza cases rose sharply to 10,950 cases, compared to 6,994 cases in the previous week.
Despite the high number of infections, Romania’s vaccination rate remains low. By January 26, just over 1.13 million people had been vaccinated against influenza in a country of over 19 million people.
“The hospital is operating at full capacity,” said Dragos Nicolosu, director of the Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pneumonia in Craiova. “All necessary measures are being taken in case of an outbreak of infectious diseases in our hospital.”
Health authorities urge adults to take preventive measures, including considering getting vaccinated against influenza.
The warning also includes requiring schools and kindergartens to follow clear rules, with epidemiological screening being carried out in all educational institutions. All people showing symptoms, including teachers and students, must isolate themselves, and the building must be ventilated as much as possible.
The number of influenza cases in Romania has remained broadly stable, but peaked at around 29,000 in 2020, during the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the German data agency Statista.
