Haarlem
More and more people have the flu. For the first time this winter, the number of sick people is above the epidemic threshold. “We are anxiously looking forward to Wednesday, then we will know whether it is a flu epidemic,” says Joke Korevaar, program leader general practitioner medical care at Healthcare Institute Nivel.
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The Netherlands is in the grip of an official flu epidemic if the number of people with flu-like symptoms is above the epidemic limit for two consecutive weeks. This is achieved if at least 58 out of 100,000 people visit their doctor. Last week there were 79. “Sufferers of this influenza virus must be found in samples from the nose and throat that the doctor takes with a cotton swab.”
Complication
General practitioner Peter de Groof sees the increase reflected in his practice in Haarlem. “I notice it from a number of very elderly patients with pneumonia as a complication. That can be fatal. ”He is especially alert to vulnerable elderly people and patients with chronic heart and lung diseases. “They feel sicker and more oppressive than they should ring.”
Flu quick test
The Dijklander Hospital is prepared for a flu wave. “We have” reserved “beds for flu patients in both Hoorn and Purmerend.” The Spaarne Gasthuis (Haarlem and Hoofddorp) are also ready. “As soon as there is an influx of patients with the flu, the” flu plan “goes into effect.”
A flu quick test is used at the emergency department. “If the flu is tested positively, measures will be taken to prevent spread and make efficient use of bed capacity.” The hospital intensively campaigned for flu vaccination among nurses. “More flu shots were handed out than the year before. Employees can still get the flu shot. “
Cold shivers
Flu often starts with chills, headache, severe muscle aches, sore throat and dry cough. Fever can quickly rise to even above 39 ° C and lasts 3 to 5 days. Usually flu is harmless. The epidemic threshold was also briefly touched in December, but then the number of sick people dropped again. The flu is now later than last season. “The mild weather could have an impact,” says Joke Korevaar carefully. Flu spreads “when we cough and sneeze close together”. “Not if we sit outside on the terrace in the summer.”
Death rate
A flu wave lasts an average of 9 weeks. The 21-week epidemic in 2014/2015 was the longest in forty years. The violent flu epidemic in 2017/2018 lasted 18 weeks. The mortality rate was then much higher than usual. The flu wave last winter lasted 14 weeks.
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