Puerto Rico Influenza Epidemic Concerns Rise
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Flu Epidemic Likely in puerto Rico by End of January
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high levels of influenza continue to be registered on the Island, and the Secretary of Health, Víctor Ramos Otero, stated he is confident an epidemic could be declared by the end of January.
“Certainly, we reached six weeks and the criteria will be met” to declare the epidemic, the official reiterated in an interview with First Hour.
He explained that the week of December 7 to 13, whose report was published on December 19, corresponds to the first week of surveillance in which influenza numbers skyrocketed.The report for the second week of growth is expected to be issued next Tuesday.
For this reason, the official called on anyone who feels sick not to go to Christmas parties, work, or any other activity in which they are in contact with other people. In addition,he asked anyone who goes to a clinic,hospital,or health center to wear a mask to avoid contagion.
“It is increasing and on these Christmas days we have the situation where fewer tests are reported, because there are a lot of laboratories closed. People, if they feel very bad, go to the hospital, but it is indeed not a report with all the laboratories open” that the agency will issue, he explained.
He said that during this festive period they would give more attention to hospitalizations.
According to the BioData portal of the Department of Health, from November 26 to December 26, 430 hospitalizations due to influenza were reported.