Seasonal influenza records indicate that this year’s rates of infection have increased, said the Ministry of Health in a press conference held at the Ministry on Friday, February 5. The cooler temperatures of the season, claimed the Ministry, are what give rise to influenza and flu-like infections every year.
Of the 32 patients in Ethiopia that have been diagnosed with the flu so far, four that had pre-existing conditions of asthma, diabetes and lung disease have died.
Anyone feeling flu-like symptoms should rest, the Ministry recommends, consume a lot of liquids, and if conditions persist for over three days, see a health professional.
Of the three to five million people that catch influenza world wide, half a million die every year.
Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are especially susceptible, the Ministry cautioned, and should seek immediate medical attention when symptoms occur.
The disease is airborne so all necessary precautions should be taken to avoid the spread through coughing, sneezing, and the like.
Also of grave concern is the Zika virus that is currently at epidemic proportions in Latin American countries. As both the temperature and type of mosquito that enable the infection are present in Ethiopia, anyone suffering mild fever, skin rash and pink eye, should seek immediate medical attention.
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