Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/926403
maltatoday SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2018 News 3 lying health problems, and in such cases there can be complications as a result of the virus. "Influenza is quite contagious and is classified as a 'droplet in- fection' – one which can be eas- ily transmitted from person to person through airborne droplets propelled through sneezing and coughing, and through touching surfaces with hands which have come into contact with the drop- lets," she said. "People spend more time indoors in winter, and this helps the flu to spread. We recommend preven- tion first – sick people should avoid coming in contact with vulnerable persons such as young children, the elderly, or pregnant women," she added. Other people who have a greater risk of contracting the virus in- clude people who work with chil- dren, health practitioners and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Vaccine most effective prevention The most effective way of pre- venting an influenza infection is to take the vaccine, she asserted, and this is available to everyone for free at government health centres. "We knew, through statistical reports coming from Australia's 2017 winter, that we would be hav- ing a severe influenza season," she noted, "And our health authorities requested that doctors recom- mend their patients to take the flu vaccine, which was this year made available earlier than usual." However, there are cases when people who took the vaccine still fell ill. One of the reasons for this is that they might have been in- fected with a different strain of the virus, present in the community, than the one they were vaccinated against. "I believe we have reached or al- most reached the peak in terms of number of cases, and we hope that by the end of January we would have seen almost all the cases, as the season usually last around six to seven weeks" she maintained. Antivirals only in cases of predisposing conditions In healthy patients, the most im- portant thing to do when falling ill with influenza is to avoid going to school or work. Patients should then take medi- cine which targets the symptoms of the virus, such as fever-lowering medication, nausea medication, and adequate hydration and elec- trolyte replacement in cases of di- arrhea. "We do not prescribe antivi- ral medication unless the patient concerned has predisposing con- ditions, in which case the medica- tion is administered in hospital," she said. Parents tell of two-week long flu bouts A number of parents we spoke to as they took their children to school, said their children had been ill with long bouts of flu this winter, with several of them saying their family had not taken the vac- cine. "Both my children fell ill with pe- riods of flu lasting two weeks," one mother said, "I had not vaccinated them, however, as I was worried by those who said they fell quite ill after taking it. However I might reconsider this next winter, espe- cially since the flu was particularly strong this season." "We did not take the vaccine, and thank fully my children have not fallen ill," another mother said, "However, other people in my family fell ill for periods of around a week and half. I think it's important for children not to go to school if ill, to avoid spreading the virus." Another parent said that given the large increase in flu cases re- ported in the news, she had decid- ed to give her children the vaccine this week. REQ NO: 99425 *7 year repayment period applicable to all loans of €10,000 and over. All other loans repayable over a maximum period of 5 years. O•er valid until 28 February 2018. **For a loan of €10,000, repayable over 7 years at a fixed borrowing rate of 4.99% per annum, where a processing fee of €40.00 will be charged, the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) will be 5.3%. Monthly repayments will be €141.63 and total amount paid after 7 years will be €11,936.92. Approved and issued by HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c., 116, Archbishop Street, Valletta VLT1444 which is regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority. 99425-01/2018 Together we thrive CLICK hsbc.com.mt/start CALL 2380 2000 VISIT your local branch SMS send text message "PERSONAL LOAN" to 7900 2380 (Normal SMS tari•s apply) HSBCMalta HSBC_MT JOY IS GETTING WHAT YOU WANT TODAY WITH A PERSONAL LOAN • Up to 7 years' repayment* • Funds transferred same day • Full amount finance 4.99% Interest rate** Influenza cases skyrocket as doctors 'worst flu season ever.' Dr Shirley Farrugia, general practitioner, said this winter brought with it the highest number of flu cases she has seen in 30 years of practice