UK flu outbreak may shift to Europe
Source: Agencies |
January 8, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
EUROPEAN health officials are warning that the swine flu outbreak that appears to be spiking in Britain could soon spread to the rest of the continent.
The annual flu season struck the United Kingdom early this winter, with cases surging last month and doubling almost every week.
The predominant strain infecting people is swine flu, which was responsible for the 2009 pandemic. Unlike most flu viruses, swine flu mostly affects people under 65 and many of its victims are -previously healthy younger people with no underlying health problems.
In Britain, a vaccine shortage is forcing authorities to resort to leftover shots from last year's swine flu pandemic. Some hospitals have been forced to cancel elective surgeries to accommodate extra flu patients.
Health officials say the -European continent should pay attention to what's happening in Britain.
"What starts in the west of Europe tends to move east," said Angus Nicoll, director of influenza coordination at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. "It's very likely this same pattern (in Britain) will progress to the rest of Europe."
Nicoll said some countries with particularly high vaccination rates - Finland, Norway and Sweden - would likely dodge a severe flu season. He said other countries, including France and Germany, should step up their vaccination programs and possibly prepare their hospitals for an imminent wave of flu cases.
"It is not clear if flu in the rest of Europe will be as intense, or if there was a perfect storm of bad weather (and virus circulation in the UK)," Nicoll said.
In the UK, nearly 800 people with flu are being treated in intensive care units and 50 people have so far died
The annual flu season struck the United Kingdom early this winter, with cases surging last month and doubling almost every week.
The predominant strain infecting people is swine flu, which was responsible for the 2009 pandemic. Unlike most flu viruses, swine flu mostly affects people under 65 and many of its victims are -previously healthy younger people with no underlying health problems.
In Britain, a vaccine shortage is forcing authorities to resort to leftover shots from last year's swine flu pandemic. Some hospitals have been forced to cancel elective surgeries to accommodate extra flu patients.
Health officials say the -European continent should pay attention to what's happening in Britain.
"What starts in the west of Europe tends to move east," said Angus Nicoll, director of influenza coordination at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. "It's very likely this same pattern (in Britain) will progress to the rest of Europe."
Nicoll said some countries with particularly high vaccination rates - Finland, Norway and Sweden - would likely dodge a severe flu season. He said other countries, including France and Germany, should step up their vaccination programs and possibly prepare their hospitals for an imminent wave of flu cases.
"It is not clear if flu in the rest of Europe will be as intense, or if there was a perfect storm of bad weather (and virus circulation in the UK)," Nicoll said.
In the UK, nearly 800 people with flu are being treated in intensive care units and 50 people have so far died
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