Children’s Hospital Head says flu cases have doubled across Georgia
He noted the flu was contagious and “dangerous for children and adults”, urging the public to stay at home in cases with the symptoms. Photo: Iashvili Children Hospital/Facebook
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Ivane Chkhaidze, the Medical Director of the Tbilisi-based Iashvili Children's Hospital, on Friday said the number of flu cases had doubled across the country.
Chkhaidze said in the 49th calendar week of 2023, 16 percent of confirmed cases of flu had been reported, with the number rising to 27 percent two weeks later.
He added symptoms of the flu included temperature of 38C or higher, severe headache, joint and muscle ache and general weakness, with patients becoming drowsy and irritated and losing their appetite.
He noted the flu was contagious and “dangerous for children and adults”, urging the public to stay at home in cases with the symptoms.
Ivane Chkhaidze, the Medical Director of the Tbilisi-based Iashvili Children’s Hospital, on Wednesday said the 2024 New Year’s Eve was the first for the clinic without patients admitted with injuries from pyrotechnics used in festive season celebrations.
Georgian healthcare authorities have called on the public to ensure they are vaccinated against seasonal flu amid increasing numbers of cases of various virus types across the country.
Ivane Chkhaidze, the medical director of Iashvili children’s hospital on Saturday said the “overwhelming” majority of flu cases have been the so-called Hong Kong H3-N2 virus, which appears to be more severe in children, unlike the current coronavirus variant.
Pregnant women, doctors, patients on dialysis, individuals with diabetes, HIV/AIDS and those in risk groups will receive vaccines against flu free of charge starting on Wednesday, the Georgian health ministry has announced.