Current flu season has turned into epidemic

The current flu season turned into a flu epidemic even before the Christmas holiday, Slovakia's Chief Hygienist Jan Mikas told TASR on Tuesday. "With regard to the development of the epidemiological situation, we expect that the incidence of acute respiratory diseases, including flu and flu-like diseases, will exceed the epidemic threshold in all regions of Slovakia this week," he said.
According to Mikas, the incidence of flu and other respiratory diseases should decrease during the Christmas holiday. "Children do not group themselves in school collectives at that time and fewer people go to work because of the holiday," he explained. Mikas expects the incidence to increase again after the holiday, when the second peak of the flu season should occur.
The chief hygienist reiterated that the most effective form of protection is provided by vaccination against the flu. He recommended people wear respiratory masks in crowded public transport vehicles, in crowded shops, at mass events, but also if they feel symptoms of illness or when they return to a work collective after being ill. "It is also appropriate in situations when you are surrounded by strangers and you are unable to keep a safe distance from them, or if you don't know their health condition," he said.
Mikas noted that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, wearing an FFP2 respiratory mask is still mandatory for staff and visitors to health-care facilities and care homes, patients in doctor's waiting rooms and pharmacy customers. (TASR)