Kerris McKoy
January 28, 2011
12:54am
As we are currently in flu season, reports of flu patients have increased in Europe. This flu epidemic is spreading fast from Europe to The Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and France. Experts at the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are extremely concerned for younger (children) patients. As result of the 2009/2010 Swine Flu (H1N1) epidemic, vaccinations have been given and have shown to prevent patients from catching the influenza. The ECDC has reported that at least 24 deaths have reported in Spain, 6 in Ireland, and 11 in The Netherlands. Angus Nicoll, the ECDU’s flu expert states in a telephone interview that by “looking at what is happening in France, the Netherlands, and Ireland, we can see that the influenza epidemics are progressing from west to east in Europe.” Due to the supply shortages and the overwhelmingly demand for vaccination in Britain, Nicoll urges other health authorities should take act and prepare further east. The pandemic is having the hardest hit towards the youth, those that are healthiest or have no underlying health problems. The Swine Flu (H1N1) vaccination is included in the seasonal flu vaccinations being offered for this year’s flu season. The World Health Organization (WHO) advised that the Swine Flu would be the predominant strain of influenza during this year’s flu season.
Everyone all around the world are advised to get vaccinated. Younger children, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions are at the higher risk of catching the influenza. As the Swine Flu (H1N1) virus spreads throughout Europe and heads east those further east are cautioned to prepare for high surges of patients seeking medical attention. Patients should be aware that vaccination can prevent the catching of the influenza and are encouraged to get vaccinated.
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