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The seasonal flu which this year carries the virus H1N1 reached its peak last week, and experts hope that it is not a coincidence that the cases of people infected has decreased since Friday. This was the statement of the experts from the infectious diseases prevention centre who gave a press conference at the Ministry of Health, attended by the Minister Andreas Loverdos.

Last winter the flu has reached its peak around the end of November 2009, but this year it started gaining strength around the middle of December. The number of cases started to increase significantly since December although the flu appeared in October. Currently, the flu is gaining strength and cases are increasing throughout central, east and north Europe.

Citizens in Greece were not much interested in vaccination this year. The percentage of vaccinated people has grown only after the publications and media reports which showed that the number of deaths and of people in emergencies had increased. The profile of people who died of flu showed that they were at the age of between 30 and 75 years and none of them had been vaccinated, and a large percentage were in the groups for which vaccines are recommended, said Stefnos Bonovas from the infectious diseases prevention centre. These groups include chronic patients, pregnant women and overweight people. Of those who are in emergencies  only 3% are vaccinated. However, the experts said that the number of deaths did not exceed the number expected. Experts admitted that the doctors themselves did not vaccinated against influenza, and if anyone had got vaccinated years ago it did not matter because the vaccine did not work forever and we should got vaccinated each year.

However, the number of the flu victims today reached 61 and 250 people are treated in hospital emergencies. Health services are on the alert due to the rapid spread of the flu and the increase in the number of deaths. Thirteen people have died from the flu virus from Friday until Monday morning. Flu victims were 130 people at this time last year. There were more people suffering from flu then and they have immunity for the next 30 years but the risk for chronic patients remains high.

According to specialists from the infectious diseases prevention centre, the flu will spread out until the beginning of April, so the best advice mostly to the chronic patients is to get vaccinated. This type of flu develops fast and they recommend antiviral medications and antibiotics after prescription. Since 35% of beds in public hospitals emergencies are occupied by patients who have flu, Health Minister Andreas Loverdos announced on Friday that he would seek military hospitals and private hospitals emergencies to cooperate and to place their beds at state health care’s disposal if necessary. The Ministry’s message is "act quickly but with no panic."

Statistical data show that only 5.9% of the population got vaccinated this year. The Ministry alerted to observe basic hygiene requirements - to wash hands, avoid contact of dirty hands with eyes and nose, and take antiviral medications as soon as symptoms are felt, however mild they might be, but always to take medicines after medical examination. Chronic patients particularly who are at risk to pull through the flu in grave condition or the condition of which could get complicated must immediately take measures, even before the diagnosis confirmation.

In parallel, the Minister of Health defined the building, where the 250 immigrants on hunger strike are housed, as an "infection bomb".  

"On Sunday we sent a group of doctors in the building where the immigrants are housed. This is a real "infection bomb" in downtown Athens. The people live there without any sanitation, and some of them are really in very bad condition due to the hunger strike. This can not  continue under these conditions any longer. We are very worried from the Ministry of Health and the infectious diseases prevention centre and send a message of care and serious attitude," said Loverdos.

A doctor from the infectious diseases prevention centre stated that two doctors, one nurse, one psychologist and a sociologist were in front of Megar Hepatiya at nine o'clock on Sunday morning but the activists who guarded the immigrants did not allow them to enter. The team wanted to examine all immigrants but because they did not trust government institutions they did not allow them in. The doctor said that the team would be available at any time when immigrants needed examination.

The team of doctors and health personnel from the infectious diseases prevention centre has agreed to enter the building accompanied by representatives of the NGO Doctors of the World, which monitors the health condition of immigrants. But after what happened and because the team was not allowed to enter the building, Doctors of the World refused to observe any longer  the condition of the immigrants who have been on strike for twenty days and drank only water with sugar last week. This prompted Minister Loverdos to state that there was an "infection bomb" in the building on Patisia Avenue. Dr. Tsyadras explained that when there were so many people gathered in such a small place and in unhealthy conditions, and on hunger strike, their body got weak and it was very likely to begin to suffer from flu, gastroenteritis, meningitis and tuberculosis. If this happened it would be dangerous for the immigrants’ visitors but also for the people they meet.