An influenza epidemic has begun in Latvia, reported the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) to the LETA agency.
The Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) announces the start of the influenza epidemic on Tuesday, December 9, based on monitoring data provided by the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory.
From December 1 to 7, the proportion of positive samples for influenza at the NMRL sharply increased to 18.1% compared to 9.1% the previous week. Thus, the epidemic threshold has been exceeded.
The CDPC continues to collect other influenza monitoring data for this period, which will be published in the weekly report.
Experts remind that the most severely affected by influenza are elderly people and those with chronic diseases - cardiovascular, pulmonary, and kidney diseases, diabetes, as well as cancer patients, individuals with chronic infections, and people with weakened immune systems. Influenza is particularly dangerous for young children and pregnant women.
The best protection against influenza and complications caused by it is vaccination. Given that immunity develops within 10–14 days after vaccination, and the spread of influenza usually continues until the end of May, it is not too late to get vaccinated against influenza even during an epidemic, especially if medical services are planned, such as elective surgery or treatment in a hospital, specialists emphasize.
Information on where to receive state-funded influenza vaccination for at-risk patients is available on the CDPC website, in case vaccines are unavailable in family practice. The list is updated and adjusted based on vaccine availability, the CDPC reports.
To avoid infection, it is also necessary to follow general preventive measures, such as minimizing visits to public places where many people gather, using public transport less frequently, and washing hands often and thoroughly or disinfecting them with hand sanitizer. It is also important to avoid touching the face with dirty hands.
Experts also urge adherence to respiratory and cough hygiene rules - covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow, and then washing hands. It is also necessary to regularly ventilate rooms and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
The CDPC emphasizes that it is important to avoid direct contact with sick individuals and, if possible, to maintain physical distancing in public places. In conditions of increased infection risk, especially for those in at-risk groups, it is recommended to use a medical mask or respirator that covers the nose and mouth.
Experts remind that patients with signs of acute respiratory illness should stay home, contact their doctor by phone, and follow their recommendations.
During the influenza epidemic, visits to family doctors for patients with influenza are covered if the patient resides in the doctor's primary service area. These patients must pay the visit fee set by the state - 2.85 euros.
