The flu in the Czech Republic retreats. What is the current state of the epidemic

Although the number of people with acute respiratory infections, including influenza, have not yet dropped below the epidemic limit of 1,600 patients per hundred thousand inhabitants, according to experts, we are decreasing behind the highlight of the epidemic and infected. This is one of the reasons why many hospitals have been disturbing prohibitions in recent days or alleviating visits to hospitalized patients.

Since Tuesday, people can again visit their loved ones in Tábor Hospital, since Wednesday at the University Hospital Brno. The University Hospital Olomouc also canceled the ban on Thursday.

« The improving situation has made it possible to cancel the general restriction of visits, » said device spokesman Adam Fitscher. “But no one should come up with symptoms of colds. At the same time, we recommend preventive protection of the airways with masks or respirators, even in waiting rooms from the outpatient clinics, ”he added.

The ban on visits the next day no longer pays in the inpatient departments of the Krnov hospital and in its subsequent care facility in Albrechtice. In its nursing care departments in Dvorce, the Krnov hospital canceled the ban before.

Although the Klaudian Hospital in Mladá Boleslav does not apply to the limitation across the board, it differs according to the department, so it is necessary to find out in advance where and under what conditions the visitor will get.

Waiting for new numbers

In many hospitals, there is a flat ban on. For example, in the Karviná mining hospital until the end of February, they will release visitors for the first time on Saturday 1 March.

In the University Hospital at St. Anna in Brno originally wanted to consider the cancellation of the ban on the last day of February. According to a hospital spokesman, however, they will not decide until Monday, when the National Institute of Public Health will publish new figures on the number of patients.

Many other hospitals, which have been restricting visits so far. “The numbers of respiratory infections have not yet dropped below the epidemic border. We will wait until Monday and, according to the new data, either we will cancel the prohibition of visits or not, ”said Petra Petlachová, a spokesman for the University Hospital Ostrava.

The restrictions on the Military Hospital Olomouc and the University Hospital Pilsen, as well as in the hospitals of the Pardubice Region, in Zlín, Nový Jičín and elsewhere, also apply.

“The respiratory infections, dominated by the flu, are definitely retreating. The numbers of infected decrease in all age categories. I expect a further decline in morbidity. But we are unlikely to get under the epidemic border, ”said epidemiologist Roman Prymula.

« The epidemic will continue for a few more weeks, so we should keep hygienic principles and be considerate to others, » he added.

Their lungs fall apart

In hospitals, the advent and retreat of the epidemic are delayed. It always takes about two weeks for the condition of infected people to worsen so much that they need medical or even intensive care. That is why there are almost as many patients with flu in many hospitals as in mid -February.

“In our department, the influenza epidemic culminated when 16 infected patients and others were at the same time in other departments. Now we are treating 12 of them, two of which are in the intensive care unit, which is not much difference yet, ”described the current situation of the head of the Masaryk Hospital in Ústí nad Labem and Pavel Dlouhý, chairman of the infectious medicine.

Most patients are in senior age, younger have chronic lung diseases. “The problem is that bacterial infections, usually staphylococcal, which cause severe pneumonia. Humans are then formed in the lungs of purulent deposits, the tissue disintegrates and cavities are formed. We cannot always save such patients. Only this week only two died in our country, ”said the doctor.

According to information from the National Institute of Public Health, doctors reported a total of 322 patients with clinically serious influenza infection, of which 88 died. However, these are only those patients who needed intensive care in hospitals. The overall overview of all infected and deceased is missing, because influenza infections have not yet been followed by experts as in detail as Covid.

The epidemiologist of the National Institute of Public Health has pointed out in recent days that although in other European countries, the influenza epidemic is slowly fading, the incidence of infection is still high.

« Therefore, it is still appropriate to follow basic preventive measures in the form of consistent hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, frequent ventilation and strengthening immunity, » added Matyáš Fošum.