Flu season revs up

MARINA ALTA flu cases are expected to peak in the last two weeks of January.

At present there are approximately 30 cases for every 100,000 members of the population, according to Denia Health Department. 

This is well below the Valencian Community’s 70 cases per 100,000 people, said Dr Antonio Valdivia, head of Denia’s Preventative Medicine Department. Flu cases will inevitably rise, he predicted, now that the holidays are over and children have returned to school: “Children are always the first to catch it, followed by the adults.”

Dr Valdivia stressed the importance of vaccination. “Vaccination is available throughout January in Marina Alta health centres. We recommend doing so without delay, as immunity takes around two weeks to become effective.”

Anyone with flu should try to keep away from children and those with depressed immune systems, the doctor warned.