Flu epidemic 'on the way out after weekend peak

Number of cases have been 'usual' in the region - but higher in the north

THIS WINTER's 'flu epidemic is on the way out in the Marina Alta after hitting its peak at the weekend – although the number of patients who have needed medical treatment is around a third of the regional average.

In the Valencia region as a whole, early 2020 has seen a typical 106 cases of seasonal influenza per 100,000 inhabitants, or an incidence of 0.0012% of the population.

But for the northernmost parts of the province of Alicante, the highest level reported this winter is 37.6 per 100,000.

This does not take into account those who catch the 'flu but do not go to their doctor or to hospital and who simply recover at home, with or without over-the-counter medication.

Over the last two weeks, a high number of children have been off sick from school, says the area health department management company Marina Salud.

Whilst most winters, the majority of 'flu patients treated have been the elderly, those in late middle age or people with pre-existing health conditions, this year has brought a spike in cases diagnosed in children, Marina Salud reveals.

Staff are attending to a much larger proportion of kids aged from birth to 14.

The 'flu jab is proving vital to saving health service time and money – and lives, according to Marina Salud: over 93% of cases have been in patients who have not been vaccinated.

Once inoculated, it is not possible to catch the 'flu, but the 7% who have had the jab and been treated for the condition had caught it before being vaccinated.

During the incubation period for seasonal influenza, it is largely asymptomatic, and the injection cannot stop it developing once it is already in the system.