Twelve persons, among whom a child, died of flu complications during October 1, 2018 – January 31, 2019. The authorities said none of the victims was vaccinated against flu even if all of them formed part of categories with an increased risk of infection, IPN reports.
Acting director of the National Public Health Agency Nicolae Furtună told a news conference on February 1 that the flu epidemiological situation is of average intensity and follows an upward trend. The flu reached 20 districts and is specially concentrated in Chisinau and Balti municipalities. The situation is not yet more difficult compared with the previous cold season and the previous years.
According to Nicolae Furtună, there are two risk groups in Moldova that benefit from free flu vaccine: the professional risk group and the group of those who suffer concomitantly from a number of diseases and whose state of health worsens due to viral infections. No country in the world can now buy flu shots for the entire population.
Secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection Aliona Serbulenko said the epidemic level was crossed on the last week of January. The AH1N1 virus prevails. Moldova neighbors Romania and Ukraine where a flu epidemic was declared. Almost 141,000 cases of acute respiratory infections were recorded during October 1, 2018 - January 28, 2019.
To fortify hospital medical assistance, all the institutions were supplied with medicines, including antiviral drugs for treating flu. To monitor the circulation of flu and non-flu viruses, the National Public Health Agency was provided with modern equipment, reactive substances and consumables for lab investigations.
Asked to comment on the death of the 34-year-old woman who reportedly started to receive antiviral treatment only on the fourth day of the hospitalization, Aliona Serbulenko said an inquiry was opened, but she cannot provide details as long as this goes on. The young woman died on January 19, two days after giving birth by caesarian section. The woman’s child is under medical supervision.
About 160,000 people, mainly pregnant women and children older than six months, have been immunized against flu since the start of the vaccination season.
