This season, 51 patients died of flu or complications caused by the flu in Eastern Hospital – BNN

At the Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS) this flu season, 51 patients died from flu or complications caused by it, according to the hospital’s statistical data on patients who contracted flu infection this season, and the course of the disease was severe and critical.

Although the Center for Disease Prevention and Control announced on April 25 that the flu epidemic is over, RAKUS is still treating patients whose flu contributed to complicated health problems. Statistics show that 430 patients were treated this flu season, of which 379 were cured and discharged, but unfortunately 51 patients died from flu or its complications.

According to the data collected by RAKUS, the largest number of influenza patients were treated at the inpatient “Latvijas Infektologija centrs” – a total of 242 people, of which 237 patients had influenza as the main diagnosis, and 11 patients had an additional diagnosis.

Professor Baiba Rozentāle, chief physician of the inpatient “Latvijas Infektologija centrs” hospital, emphasizes that the flu differs from other colds in terms of the severity of the complications it causes, but the most effective way to protect against it is vaccination. She claims that thanks to the fact that last year the state paid for flu vaccinations for a wide range of citizens and people willingly used this opportunity, the decision to get vaccinated against the flu not only helped doctors fight for the health of chronically ill patients, but also saved the lives of a large number of patients in their senior years.

She informs that not a single patient who had been vaccinated against the flu died in the inpatient “Latvian Infectology Center”, although patients with extremely severe health complications caused by the flu were treated there.

RAKUS inpatient “Gaiļezers” and inpatient “Latvijas Onkologijas centrs” treated the same number of flu patients each – 62 patients. On the other hand, eight patients have been treated this season in the inpatient “Biķernieki” and 16 patients in the inpatient “Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Center”.

Every year, health care professionals especially invite people from health risk groups to take advantage of the vaccination opportunities provided by the state. Young children, seniors and patients with cardiovascular, pulmonary and other chronic diseases, as well as people with weakened immunity, are more seriously ill with the flu.

Although the flu epidemic is over and the spread of flu viruses is decreasing, RAKUS reminds us that flu and other respiratory viruses continue to circulate. In order to avoid infection with flu and respiratory viruses, infectious disease experts recommend washing your hands as often as possible – every time you come home, before eating, after visiting the toilet. Therefore, people are invited to ventilate the premises and carry out wet cleaning of the premises.

Infectious disease experts also invite you to eat healthy food – this will help strengthen your immunity, as well as extend your stay in the fresh air – go for walks and do physical activities outside.

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