Scientists are fearful that the new virus will take three times more lives than the seasonal flu. Meanwhile, they believe that virus carriers right now are 20 or even 30 times more than the officially diagnosed, who are 2000. When it comes to the vaccines, the first ones are about to arrive in the country in the middle of the month.
As noted by Vima newspaper, at a congress yesterday, organized by the Disease Control and Prevention Center and the Public Health Department, a distinguished epidemiologist said that it is possible for 1500 to 3000 people in Greece to become victims of the new flu, keeping in mind that the victims of the seasonal flu per year are between 500 and 1000.
Experts are expecting that 6.5% of the Greek population will be infected with the new virus during the peak of the season and 1% out of all infected will have to be hospitalized, out of whom every fourth will be admitted in the ER. "These are not forecasts but worst case scenario," stressed epidemiologist Mr. Panayotopoulos.
In most cases until now swine flu infected people have mild symptoms, which pass in about 3 to 4 days. During the congress Professor Eleni Giamarelou described the pandemic as unpredictable and compared it to moving sand. She also said that we should act quick and cold-bloodedly. On the other hand, the Dean of the Public Health department Yoanis Koriopoulos noted that the main trait of the flu is insecurity. When it comes to closing schools, Mr. Denis Culombie, director of the Readiness and Reaction Group in the European Disease Control and Prevention Center, noted that this can happen only if there is anyone to look after the child at home and even then the new flu is a big threat for public health.
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