Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 4:20 PM
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Last week, 68 out of 100,000 people with flu-like symptoms went to the doctor. And with these numbers we speak of a flu epidemic, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reports today.
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“This is the second week above the border for a flu epidemic. We are talking about a flu epidemic if two or more consecutive weeks more than 58 in 100,000 people have flu-like symptoms and at least 10 percent of these people are affected by the influenza virus,” a spokesperson explains.
Influenza virus?
In the Netherlands there are forty GP practices that keep track of how many people come by with flu-like symptoms and with which virus they are infected. The influenza virus is responsible for the ‘real flu’, while the rhinovirus, the RS virus or the enterovirus cause similar symptoms.
Influenza was found in about 40 percent of the samples that were taken. Typical for real flu is very sudden fever that can go up to 39 degrees or higher. The rhinovirus, the RS virus and the enterovirus can cause colds such as runny nose, sore throat, headache, cough and sometimes fever.
The flu epidemic usually starts in December or January and lasts an average of thirteen weeks. The flu epidemic lasted fourteen weeks last year.
Appearance
According to RIVM, it is difficult to prevent you from coming into contact with viruses that cause flu-like symptoms. To prevent others from getting sick, you can sneeze in a paper handkerchief (and throw it away after use), sneeze and cough in your elbow and often wash your hands.
It is also possible to have yourself vaccinated against influenza, the cause of the ‘real’ flu. People who run a greater risk of complications from the flu already receive a call each year to get vaccinated.
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