Epidemiologist: This year there are much more catarrhal diseases than last year

It is expected there will be much more catarrhal diseases in Belarus this year in comparison with last year. About 5 thousand cases are registered daily in Minsk. The peak is expected in the beginning of next year, the prevailing virus to be last year's H1N1.

About 24 thousand cases are registered weekly in Minsk. Last year it was about 20 thousand. This was informed to the European Radio for Belarus by the Head of the epidemiological department of Minsk city hygienic and epidemiological center Alena Fisenka:

"This year the level of diseases is incomparatively higher than last year and average annual data for many years. That is why we insist it is necessary to get immunized this year. About 23-24 cases are registered each week. The level of disease amounts to 4,5-5 thousand on working days, and much less people address to doctors on the week-ends, traditionally. It is a rather high level for such a time of the year. Usually the level of disease in this time amounts to about 4 thousand a day".

According to Alena Fisenka, these are classic viral infections, or acute respiratory viral infections. Flu starts in November, its peak being in January-February.

"It's not flu yet, it's acute respiratory viral infections, but such activity of respiratory viruses is a sign that flu can be this active as well, when the flu season starts, traditionally in November.

Specialists predict the flu peak in traditional time period for Belarus - January-February (the peak of epidemic upheaval of diseases). However, it is not excluded that there will be some small splashes of diseases starting from November".

Alena Fisenka informed that last year 170 thousand Minskers went through flu and ARVI during the epidemic peak. Besides, about 90 thousand inhabitants of the capital have been flu vaccinated already.

"The total number of people planned for vaccination should amount to 360-370 thousand Minskers. This number is rather big. About 90 thousand have been vaccinated so far. 60 thousand of them are risk group, vaccinated for the republican budget expense. 30 thousand have been vaccinated for the expense of their organizations".

The "risk group" included people with chronical diseases, and doctors. Immunization of children started on October 12.

Alena Fisenka: "Finance from the city budget have been provided for that".

Alena Fisenka advised the Euroradio's audience to get a vaccine against flu and to take vitamins:

"It is clear that today the first and the most important recommendation is vaccination, because it is expected that the prevailing virus will be last years' H1N1. All the vaccines presented now at the market have a stamm of this very virus. Thus, they prevent from this flu type for sure. If you cannot be vaccinated due to some reasons, you can start a course of anti-flu preparation right now - some immune stimulating medicines will help".