Flu causes first death

A 61-year-old woman from Floresti died of swine flu. Initially, doctors supposed it was aggravation of the chronic bronchitis. The laboratory tests showed it was flu caused by the AH1N1 virus. Ion Salaru, first vice director of the National Public Health Center, has told Info-Prim Neo that the woman went to the doctor with delay and the anti-flu medicine Tamiflu couldn’t help her. When the first symptoms appeared, the woman tried to treat herself at home. “Self-treatment is not indicated even when it seems that it is an ordinary infection. The family doctor gives the necessary instructions,” he said. Ion Salaru also said that cases of flu hadn’t been recorded in Floresti earlier. It is not yet known in what circumstances the woman became sick. After the winter holidays, she paid a visit to Romania, but it’s not yet clear if she contracted the infection there as the incubation period is up to seven days, while the woman had been in Romania more than seven days ago. The woman worked as a booking office seller at a bus station and had been in contact with many people. “The persons with whom the woman had been in contact were identified. They are under supervision and are for the time being healthy,” he stated. Specialists recommend taking prophylaxis measures, including eating products that contain vitamin C, such as lemon, red and black currant as well as garlic and onion, leading a healthy lifestyle, without smoking and alcohol, avoiding contact with sick persons, washing the hands, and airing the rooms. More than 50 cases of seasonal flu have been confirmed so far this year. Over 30 cases were recorded in Ungheni district, where a young man that got the AH1N1 virus is in a serious condition.