Fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat. A flu epidemic broke out in the Czech Republic. Experts from the State Health Institute (SZÚ) reported that last week there were regarding 1,750 sick people per hundred thousand people. The diary provides an overview of the most important things regarding the flu – for example, where the morbidity is the worst and how many people are now in hospitals.
Fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat. A flu epidemic broke out in the Czech Republic. | Photo: Shutterstock
While the week before last was carried in calm numbers, a week later almost a quarter more people were laid to rest. “Influenza type A we already have and the progress is quite strong,” confirmed to Deník a general practitioner from the central Bohemian village of Lety Michaela Formánková.
Experts from the SZÚ also pointed out that as of January 26, ninety cases of people who ended up in hospital intensive care units with the flu were reported. Eighteen of them died. Many people also experience flu-like viruses, others have covid.
See where the flu is raging the most:
Influenza and other respiratory infections plague the Czech Republic: Where is the situation worst, what are the numbers?
How is it in the regions (data as of January 30)?
The number of infected people is growing in all regions and age groups. “Currently, the highest morbidity is in the South Moravian, Karlovy Vary regions and the Highlands. We speak of an epidemic if the incidence of acute respiratory infections exceeds the limit of 1,600 to 1,700 patients per 100,000 inhabitants. Taking into account that influenza predominates among acute respiratory infections, we are talking regarding an influenza epidemic,” explained the head Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, SZÚ Jan Kynčl.
How does the flu manifest itself?
People with the flu have fever or chills, cough, headache and muscle aches, runny nose and sore throat. He doesn’t feel good regarding it overall. The exact diagnosis can only be determined by a doctor, whom, however, not everyone visits. Many manage to overcome the disease at home, relieving themselves with, for example, commonly available medicines (such as paralen or aspirin) or teas. In hospitals, people are prescribed treatment by a doctor.
How to distinguish flu from angina?
If a person has a sore throat, he is not sure whether it is a sore throat (a bacterial infection) or a virus. While antibiotics usually work for angina, viruses, including flu, do not. Accurate diagnosis only a doctor can tell. On the basis of a home CRP blood test, purchased at a pharmacy, the patient can roughly determine whether it is a viral or bacterial infection. If the condition does not improve, even if the test does not confirm the presence of bacteria, it is still a good idea to see a doctor. A bacterial infection can sometimes be added to a viral infection.
RESPIRATORY DISEASE. Do you know how to tell them apart? It’s not possible at home:
How do you know if you have a virus, flu or covid? It doesn’t work at home
How to prevent the flu?
It is best to try to prevent flu and other viruses. Or at least mitigate their progress. According to experts, a healthy lifestyle and strengthening of immunity is important. According to Jana Havrdová from the Czech Chamber of Fitness, any movement is important, including brisk walking. “However, more than half of the people move sporadically. A quarter of people don’t even move practically at all,” she pointed out at last year’s conference of the Prague 1 Chamber of Commerce. A varied and balanced diet is also important.
How regarding vaccinations?
Above all, the elderly and chronically ill people were recommended by experts to get vaccinated once morest the flu before the outbreak of the epidemic, i.e. from October to December to inoculate. Even today, with an epidemic in full swing, this vaccination is theoretically possible. “However, it is not ideal now,” Václav Šmatlák, vice-chairman of the Association of General Practitioners of the Czech Republic, told Deník.
