Filenews 16 March 2023
Fourteen people have died of influenza in Cyprus this winter, including an 8-year-old girl who ended up at Limassol General Hospital after spending many days in the Intensive Care Unit.
According to official data of the Ministry of Health, the 8-year-old child was affected by influenza B', while it is noted that she had no other health problem.
Moreover, the total number of hospitalized cases of influenza is 440, of which 274 concern children under the age of 15.
The officially recorded data, regarding the surveillance of influenza activity in Cyprus, refer to the period 26 December 2022 to 6 March 2023.
It is worth noting that more than 50% of influenza cases involve children under 15 years of age.
Moreover, the intermediate age in relation to the cases of influenza that have been hospitalized in the week of February 27 to March 6 (the latest data) refers to 8 years.
24-year-old, 37-year-old and 48-year-old on the list of the dead
In his statements, the Field Epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health, Valentinos Silvestros said that the vast majority of deaths have been recorded in Limassol, while three deaths out of 14 have been recorded in Larnaca.
Specifically, the 8-year-old girl, who lost the battle with influenza A', was admitted to the Limassol General Hospital on February 15, 2023 and died after ten days, on February 25, 2023.
Also, two deaths recorded in January concern a 24-year-old who died from influenza A and a 37-year-old who died from influenza B', both at Limassol General Hospital.
Among the dead is a 48-year-old woman, as well as a 56-year-old man, who also died in a Limassol hospital.
In relation to the remaining nine deaths, they were over the age of 70, with six being recorded again in Limassol.
Referring to the cases recorded in the week of February 27 to March 6, Mr. Silvestros said that a total of 41 cases of influenza were hospitalized nationwide.
More specifically, he said that 24.4% were over 65 years old, 12.2% were 40 to 65 years old, 7.3% were 15 to 39 years old, while 44% were 5 years old to 14 years old and 12.2% children under 4 years old.
"More than 50% of the flu cases admitted to hospitals involve children under the age of 15," Mr. Silvestros said.
Respiratory viruses 6% of total hospital admissions
In addition, he noted that for the week of February 27 to March 6, 6% of total hospital admissions concern respiratory viruses, such as influenza, RSV and Covid, to note that from 6% 3.34% concerns admissions, due to Influenza.
According to Valentino Silvestro, flu activity remains elevated in the community, while at the moment the presence of influenza B "is more pronounced".
It is noted that the recorded data of the Ministry of Health refer only to the cases that have been hospitalized - and not general cases in the community - for which the Ministry of Health does not keep data and which may be more.
Still on the rise, says Kolyu
Professor of Paediatrics-Infectious Diseases at the Medical School of the University of Cyprus, Dr Maria Koliou, said that Cyprus is still in an outbreak phase.
He said admissions of children to Makarios Hospital are increased, noting that influenza acts as an aggravating factor in respiratory infections, while possibly exacerbating other diseases.
CNA
