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THE PEAK IS EXPECTED BY THE END OF JANUARY
Influenza, 300 thousand Italians in bed
Fewer vaccinations, but recommended for those
at risk. But little time remains to protect
(Ansa) LONDON - The peak of influenza has not arrived yet and is expected by the end of January , but already more than three hundred thousand Italians in bed with the classic symptoms of "bad season" and doctors have been booming of requests for visits to home. Declining immunization, while family doctors and virologists reaffirm the importance of protection: it is good that those at risk who have not yet done so vaccinate as soon as possible, stress, to avoid any serious complications.
A million cases - more than 300 thousand Italians would be affected by these days, with a total figure at the end of the season could reach 5 million. Since the beginning of the epidemic, which includes not only the virus "Australian", even H1N1, it is estimated a million cases, but the incidence has remained at low levels (around 1-1, 5 per thousand), but been rising in recent weeks: 2.82 and 3.79 during the week of Christmas last week monitored from 26 December to 2 January. To be affected are mostly children from 0 to 4 years, the past week are well recorded an incidence of 10.2 cases per thousand. Even the above average range 5-14 years, with 7.9 cases per thousand, while the 15-64 years age classes recorded an incidence of 3.2, which falls to 1.2 for those over 65. Absolutely the worst affected region is the Piedmont, with more than twice as sick than the national average (11.6 cases per thousand), followed by Liguria (6.78) and Marche (6.5).
LITTLE TIME FOR THE VACCINE - Vaccinations are down compared to last year. "They seem to hold among the elderly, with an average of 62% of vaccines who remain poor, while there is a very low response among young people in risk groups, or with underlying conditions, and among health care workers," explains virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco University of Milan. A renewed call for vaccinations for the elderly and persons with chronic diseases is also Stefania Salmaso, director of the National Centre for Epidemiology Institute of Health: "The next week is the last valid, given that they needed fifteen days before the vaccine is effective. So who wants to protect himself should do so immediately. " The vaccine is available in doctors' offices and local health authorities. Once contracted, the influence should not be treated with antibiotics, whose use should always be evaluated by your doctor. Finally, the circulation of the H1N1 virus in Italy, although growing, is still limited and there are reasons for concern.