Over the past three weeks, cases of influenza on the island have increased significantly, which keeps health professionals on alert for the possibility of the virus reaching epidemic levels.
According to the most recent report of the Puerto Rico Influenza Surveillance System, published yesterday, Between January 26 and February 1, 1,554 cases of the disease were reported, bringing the number of cases registered since the season began on June 30 to 13,757.
The most recent report released by the Health Department It reflects an increase with respect to the week from January 19 to 25, when 1,266 positive cases were reported, and the increase is even more significant compared to the period from January 12 to 18, when 990 cases were recorded.
In the week of December 29 to January 4, only 462 cases were reported, according to official data.
“There has been a hike in recent weeks”, said Dr. Víctor Ramos, president of the College of Surgeons, who pointed out that February and March are usually the peak months of this easily spread respiratory illness from person to person.
The pediatrician lamented the small number of people who have been vaccinated against influenza this year. “The vaccination has been very low, as in the shelters. People do not want to vaccinate, and that can bring a problem if it becomes an epidemic, ”Ramos warned.
Vaccination is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), starting at six months of age, as a tool to prevent infection. Although since its creation the vaccine does not offer 100% protection against the virus, the CDC and the medical community recommend it to minimize the risk of infection.
So far this flu season, 78 children in the United States have died from this disease, mostly from type B influenza (Victoria).
According to the United States Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report, the level of spread of the virus in Puerto Rico, as in New York City and in 45 states, is at the highest point, which means that they have been reported contagions around the whole island.
According to weekly monitoring report more recently, the region with the highest case rate is Caguas.
This week the state epidemiologist, Carmen de Seda, told The new day that people who had been infected with type A influenza should be vaccinated again against this virus since they were at risk of becoming infected with type B influenza.
Similarly, he said that, Although cases are on the rise, the island is not yet under any alert level.
For there to be an alert from the government, influenza cases would have to exceed 2,000 cases in a week.
Two years ago, Puerto Rico does not face an epidemic of this virus, despite the fact that the 2018-2019 season closed it with 52,253 cases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this virus mainly affects the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and, occasionally, the lungs.
The virus is easily transmitted from one person to another through the small particles that come out with a cough or sneeze.
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