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During the winter season, we had the opportunity to talk about influenza illness and parainfluenza virus, which, as usual, or perhaps with more energy than in previous years, have put to bed several million Italians. , the flu in most people resolves in a few days, at most a week. However, older people with chronic conditions may have complications – mainly pneumonia and heart problems – that can make the disease worse, require hospitalization and, in some cases, lead to death. Pregnant women are also at higher risk for complications of influenza
More than 8 million people were affected by influenza B (61% of cases) and A (39%), especially the strain H1N1pdm09 that accompanies us Since the pandemic of 2009
The intensity of the epidemic has been among the highest in recent years, comparable to that of the 2004-5 season and the 2009-10 pandemic, and has mainly affected l & # 39; outbreak. Pediatric age 0-4 years .
The last season of the flu hit more vigorously in Emilia-Romagna: its intensity was "very high, both as total incidence and as number of cases and serious deaths
The epidemic curve reaches Zenith in the second week of 2018 (16.3 cases per thousand badisted) and about 681,000 people became ill, with 135 serious cases and 48 deaths.
Data come from the annual report, updated in June and published on the epidemiology portal for public health, putting online the evolution of the disease, the spread of different types of virus, the serious cases reported and their mortality as well as the immunization coverage achieved.
Study shows that the influenza season 2017 – 2018 experienced an early start at the end of autumn, similar to that of the previous season, and after a first run (in the second week of 2018) a strong reprise in the third week of January
sick people. The increase in cases mainly concerned age groups up to four years and five to fourteen years old. As always, the most affected segment is four years. More than 65 years old reached the peak incidence of 7.3 patients per thousand people during the second week of 2018.
Serious cases affected different age groups, although most concentrated in people over 55 years of age. years. However, the report emphasizes that "previously at risk cases were 115 and 84 of them were not vaccinated (73%)".
Once again, the importance of vaccination is emphasized. of the population
The coverage recorded in individuals over 65 is only 53.1%, slightly higher than in recent seasons. Among health workers, vaccination coverage increased by 29.6% (23.7% the previous season)
More generally, in Italy, during the 2017-2018 season 15.3% of the population is vaccinated against Influenza, according to data from the Institute of Higher Health (ISS) published on the website of the Ministry of Health.
Remember that vaccination is recommended for people "at risk": especially for people aged 65 and over; children and adults with chronic diseases; pregnant women, those involved in health care and social services, employed in essential services of public utility or in contact with animals for professional reasons. For all these people, the Regional Health Service organizes the annual free flu vaccination campaign
The start of the vaccination season is scheduled from mid-October to December, while the protection period begins two weeks after the vaccination. recruitment. of the vaccine and lasts 6/8 consecutive months.
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