Influenza A races through Macedonia..

www.makfax.com.mk...&NrSection=10

Influenza A virus rages through Kumanovo

Kumanovo /03/01/ 14:49

Kumanovo's healthcare facilities are overcrowded with patients infected with Influenza A virus, Makfax's correspondent reported.

The patients report high fever, respiration problems and strong cough, which are clear symptoms of this disease.

Because of the New Year's holidays, there is no official data as to the number of the infected persons, however, the health authorities are expected to come up with the data later during the day.

The medical personnel in the clinics say the virus is spreading rapidly as more than 100 patients are seeking medical care on a daily basis.

According to Healthcare Protection Office, the rapid spreading of the influenza is a result of failure to receive preventive vaccine, due to its high price. Moreover, the recent misinformation about inefficiency of the Chinese influenza vaccines averted many citizens from receiving them.

The presence of the same virus has been officially confirmed in the nearby town of Kratovo.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.makfax.com.mk...&NrSection=10

SHPO: Flu cases registered, but still no epidemic in Macedonia

Skopje /03/01/ 19:15

The competent authorities in Macedonia have registered cases of influenza, but not of epidemic scale, said Dragan Gjorgjev, the Head of the State Health Protection Office.

Type A virus is present, Gjorgjev told several media, specifying Kumanovo and Kriva Palanka as most severely affected areas in Macedonia.

He added that no epidemic could be declared, as the procedure for establishing the number of the infected is still under way. The reports of Makfax's correspondents, as well as of those of the other media, confirm that starting from the last several days of 2006 up to now, the healthcare facilities are brimming with patients showing influenza symptoms.

As many as some hundred of patients are examined during a single doctors' shift.

...starting from the last several days of 2006 up to now, the healthcare facilities are brimming with patients showing influenza symptoms.