NEWS

Flu death toll hits 79

The number of people who have died of flu-related causes since the beginning of the year stood at 79, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) reported on Wednesday.

According to KEELPNO 49 patients were being treated in intensive care units in hospitals across Greece, while a total of 217 had been hospitalized in intensive care units since January.

KEELPNO advised citizens to seek antiviral drug treatment in cases where flu symptoms appeared.

Earlier in the week KEELPNO president Jenny Kremastinou told Kathimerini that the rather elevated number of deaths and serious flu cases this year was down to the virus strain.

“The difference with last year is that the A (H1N1) type is prevalent this year,” she said.

Last year, the A (H3N2) type was more common in Greece.

She added that the flu season had started two to three weeks earlier than usual and that only 30 percent of people in vulnerable groups had had their flu jabs.

Meanwhile, flu cases were expected to continue until the end of March.

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