HOSPITAL CHAOS IN FLU EPIDEMIC

Scheduled operations postponed as extra A&E beds are needed

A FLU epidemic that is sweeping through Alicante province has collapsed hospital A&E departments and forced the postponement of scheduled operations.

Flu reached epidemic status this week with 105 cases reported for every 100,000 residents in the past week (a flu epidemic is when cases surpass 55 per 100,000).

While local health centres are attending to twice the usual number of patients with flu, pneumologists have warned that the virus is more aggressive this year and are calling on all riskgroup residents who have not done so to get vaccinations.

The importance of vaccination is highlighted by the fact that 97% of flu patients attended to in the Valencia region had not had the jab.

The flu vaccination campaign in the region is still open and does not conclude until January 31. Risk-group patients (children, elderly and those with respiratory problems) who have not been vaccinated are advised to get an appointment via their GP as soon as possible.

Children are among the worst affected this year, with the majority of patients attended falling in the under-14s category.

Alicante and Elche Hospitals saw the number of urgent admissions soar by 30% this week, forcing several scheduled operations to be postponed due to lack of available beds.

Likewise, blood tests and disintoxication sessions have had to be rescheduled.