Flu Alarm In Italy

THE World Health Organisation has raised the alarm about influenza, which will ‘return to pre-pandemic levels’ and will peak between December and January. In the meantime, however, the ‘para-flu’ viruses, which are putting around 80,000 Italians to bed every week with fever, colds, coughs and sore throats.

In the autumn-winter period, the medical director of the Galeazzi Hospital in Milan, Fabrizio Pregliasco, predicts that, “there will be around 10 million cases in Italy, which will be added to the 5-6 million cases of the flu itself”. No vaccines or even anti-viruses exist against influenza’s relatives, the ‘para-flu’ viruses. “Infections, therefore, must be eradicated by the immune system and we can only diminish the intensity of symptoms with anti-inflammatories, antihistamines and mucolytics. In short, we simply have to wait for it to pass”, added Pregliasco.

However, there are very simple precautions that are effective in reducing the risk of infection. For example, “change the air in the room frequently, trying to keep the temperature no higher than 25 degrees centigrade, to avoid dryness of the respiratory tract, which makes it easier for the virus to attack”, said the medical director.

For influenza proper, the vaccine is already available in Italy and is free of charge for those from 60 years of age upwards. “Considering that about 2 weeks elapse after its administration before it takes effect, this is the right time to start getting vaccinated,” explains Pierluigi Bartoletti, deputy secretary of the federation of family doctors.