the cities

Many people complain of influenza cases of varying severity coinciding with the holiday season and the return of expatriates. Viruses spread widely among the Lebanese as a result of gatherings and indifference to preventive measures. This led some to fear that the Corona virus would spread again, with the emergence of an “interesting” variant, according to what the World Health Organization described, which it confirmed was the most widespread and called it “JN1.”

In this context, there is also talk about the spread of seasonal influenza H1N1, which is the most common in Lebanon and is an acute respiratory infection. Flu symptoms are similar to those of the new mutant and focus on high fever, severe headache, body aches, and cough. Dr. Eid Azar, a specialist in bacterial diseases, confirms to Al-Modon that “the virus cannot be identified without conducting the necessary tests, especially with the similarity of symptoms.”

Mirna Al-Hinnawi (25 years old) suffered from a respiratory infection and had to be hospitalized as a result of her infection with H1N1, immediately after Christmas Eve and her meeting with a number of friends.

Type A influenza viruses are classified into two types according to the groups of proteins found on the surface of the virus: (A(H1N1) and (A(H3N2), while H1N1 is the most common among people. Seasonal influenza spreads easily and its infection is transmitted quickly in crowded places through droplets containing the viruses. In the air, it can infect people in close proximity to the infected person, and the virus is also spread through hands contaminated with influenza viruses.

Al-Hanawi says: “My friends started getting sick one after another, but I was the only one who was admitted to the hospital.”

According to Azar, “This mutant falls under the Omicron strain, and is not a new mutant. Cases will increase, in addition to the significant spread of influenza.” He stresses the necessity of conducting a rapid test for Corona and influenza in pharmacies as soon as symptoms are felt, along with quarantining for at least 5 days at home.

The World Health Organization renews its calls to use masks and avoid large gatherings, especially with the beginning of the spread of JN1.

The World Health Organization announced an increase in the infection rate of the new mutant by 52% worldwide between November 20 and December 17, 2023. It indicated the necessity of adhering to preventive measures such as sterilization, wearing a mask, and taking vaccines to avoid infection and alleviate symptoms. According to the organization, seasonal influenza causes about 3 to 5 million cases of serious illness annually, and about 290,000 to 650,000 deaths due to respiratory complications, especially among groups at risk.

The usual flu
The Lebanese Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Health Organization, launched an influenza vaccination campaign last October at the Ministry’s headquarters, after a donation of 10,000 doses of…Vaccine flu​Seasonal to Lebanon. The Ministry gave priority to three groups: front-line health care workers, elderly residents of nursing homes contracted with the Ministry, and individuals who suffer from chronic health conditions, especially dialysis patients who are covered by the Ministry of Health.

The United Nations Information Center in Beirut indicated that “estimates of the burden of influenza in Lebanon are rare. Available data indicate that the burden of influenza in Lebanon is estimated at 48.1 per 100,000 patients admitted to hospital due to seasonal influenza.”

With our interest in preventive measures fading after the end of the Corona wave, influenza has returned to spread and constitute a source of concern for the Lebanese. However, it is a usual seasonal flu. As for its treatment, Azar emphasizes that “antibiotics do not work with these types of viruses, and vaccines and home examination are very useful in these cases.” The World Health Organization also recommends staying at home, resting, drinking sufficient amounts of fluids, and seeking medical care when needed.

2023-12-30 11:10:58

#virus #spreading #among #Lebanese…flu #Corona

The Lebanese citizen always wonders about the possibility of the health sector’s “resilience” in the event of the outbreak of the Israeli war on Lebanon, especially since hospitals have been in a state of incapacity since 2019. However, any observer can conclude that it is the ongoing international aid to the health sector that “prevented” it from Collapse during exceptional circumstances.

German aid
Once again, the Ministry of Public Health received 20 (TRAUMA KITS) medical aid from the German state through the World Health Organization. Any medical supplies and trauma supplies intended to treat war-wounded, in the event of a large-scale war breaking out on Lebanese territory.

“TRAUMA KITS” is a large set of medical supplies capable of treating more than 250 wounded people, consisting of special medical supplies for use during surgical operations.

In fact, international aid to the Lebanese health sector is not the first of its kind, as the Lebanese state has previously received various aid from various international organizations (World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders, United Nations, UNICEF, etc.), especially after the Ministry of Health’s emergency plan was announced. Various countries of the world responded to the humanitarian call, and the Lebanese state received, for the first time, medical aid from the World Health Organization’s logistical center in Dubai, to meet the needs of more than 1,000 wounded.

International aid varied, and medical supplies were not limited to those designated for use during surgical operations to treat war-wounded, but also included special supplies for ambulance teams, medical supplies designated for difficult births, and others.

International aid was distributed in various Lebanese hospitals, and the Ministry of Health kept the rest of the medical supplies and placed them in warehouses and warehouses belonging to the Ministry.

Official numbers
It is worth noting that the emergency plan drawn up by the Lebanese state exposed the Ministry of Health to various criticisms, given that the Lebanese state is in a state of bankruptcy, and it will be difficult for hospitals to withstand. However, the Minister of Health in the caretaker government, Firas Al-Abyad, stated to Al-Modon that the amount available within the Ministry of Health (The allocation for treating war-wounded) has exceeded 22 million US dollars, explaining that the Lebanese state has allocated an amount (one thousand billion pounds) to equip hospitals, and the rest of the amount is a loan from the World Bank.

According to the official figures obtained by Al-Modon from the Ministry of Health, the number of hospitals in Lebanon is about 160, while those prepared through the Ministry of Health are about 45, and this number is divided between large and powerful hospitals, and hospitals located near the conflict areas in South Lebanon. The number of beds allocated to receive the wounded reached 5,000.

Returning to the July 2006 war, Al-Abyad explains that the Ministry at that time needed about 5 million US dollars in order to treat more than 11,000 wounded, while the amount currently available within the Ministry of Health is 22 million US dollars.

Since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa Flood Battle, the Ministry of Health has organized more than 100 training courses for medical staff in all hospitals (governmental and private), and although Al-Abyad believes that the readiness of hospitals has become better than it was during the past months, they will need additional support if the hospitals are bombed. Israeli.

3 months and more..
For this reason, and for fear of a repeat of the series of medication interruptions, Al-Abyad confirms that the stock of medicines is now sufficient for more than 3 months, pointing out that the medicines designated for dialysis patients are now available for 3 months as well, and the Ministry of Health has distributed about (60 tons) of medical supplies. In hospitals (governmental and private). But the basic question remains: “Will the health sector be able to withstand the war?” nobody knows.

2023-12-12 17:18:06

#Health #receives #German #medical #aid #Lebanons #hospitals #preparing #war