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Date Published: 16/03/2023

ARCHIVED - Flu epidemic piles the pressure on Murcia health services

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

Cases of flu in the Region of Murcia increased by 24% in the last week

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Flu epidemic piles the pressure on Murcia health services

The flu epidemic has rebounded spectacularly all across Spain, with a surprise second wave of influenza B heaping even more pressure on the stretched health services.

In the Region of Murcia, the incidence of flu has increased by a worrying 24% in the last week alone, climbing to 60.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. And after a long period of decline, Covid infections have also risen slightly by 7.7% in the past few days, stretching GPs to the limit.

Even though cases of bronchiolitis, bronchitis and acute upper respiratory tract infections have declined, the surge in other viruses is becoming noticeable in the emergency services. On Tuesday March 14, 59 patients were waiting to be admitted to La Arrixaca hospital while another 24 were under observation, very high figures for this late in the season.

The strain is even greater in intensive care, where 87% of the beds are occupied.

Long before the winter set in, the experts were worried that Spain was in for a particularly tough flu season. The virus, along with other common respiratory infections, practically disappeared for the last three years as stringent anti-Covid sanitary measures like masks and more frequent hand washing and sanitising helped keep them at bay.

Now though, with most safety restrictions scrapped, influenza is back with a vengeance.

The first flu wave, influenza A, hit the Murcia Region in October and reached its epidemic peak by December. Unusually, rather than dropping off the radar the virus entered into a long plateau phase with slight ups and downs, and Influenza B is now leading a second seasonal epidemic.

"We are registering a higher demand than usual at this time," explained Pascual Piñera, head of the Reina Sofía Emergency Department. But respiratory viruses are not the only cause, he said, adding that huge delays in Primary Care "is having an impact" also.

See also: Moving extra sand onto Mar Menor beaches to make them tourist-ready for Easter is harming the lagoon

Image: Freepik

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