No risk of flu epidemic, health officials say

Amiran Gamkrelidze, head of Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC), announced that there is no risk of a flu epidemic in Georgia.

Gamkrelidze said that mainly the B virus is being spread across the country, and its symptoms are not severe.

The amount of patients admitted to hospitals has increased in the last three weeks, but hospitalization rates have been cut in half compared to the same period last year… Hospitals are ready to receive an increased influx of patients,” noted Gamkrelidze.

Amiran Gamkrelidze also announced that the morbidity rate of seasonal influenza is 191 in 100,000 people, which is less than the previous week.  

The number of people with acute respiratory illness has increased 3 percent and, in most cases, patients had to continue treatment in hospitals. The amount of such cases are two times lower than they were during the same period last year.

 The flu season in Georgia will last about three months, so it is important for citizens to vaccinate.

There is sufficient supply of the vaccine, although citizens should remember that it takes about two weeks for the body to build immunity after the vaccine,” noted Gamkrelidze.

The symptoms of the flu are high temperature, cough and joint pain.

The Georgian Health Ministry announced that pregnant women and members of vulnerable groups will receive the antiviral medication Tamiflu free of charge with a doctor’s prescription.