Flu season now officially 'an epidemic' in Vienna
The number of people registered as 'flu victims in Vienna has jumped from 9,000 last week up to 11,400 this week making the illness officially an epidemic
According to public health officials, the latest registrations from doctors in the Vienna region show that the current rate of influenza infections has now reached epidemic status, with more than 11,400 affected by the illness.
Fortunately, the flu hasn't shown signs of causing any deaths, but as usual very young infants and the elderly are at greatest risk if symptoms worsen.
In Lower Austria, around 2,795 cases have been reported.
The most popular strain is A-H3N2, a variant virus which normally circulates among pigs. It's also found among some species of birds and other mammals. Around 36,000 people die in the USA from a similar virus each year.
According to the US Centre for Disease Control, seasons where the H3N2 strain dominates are usually more severe, but are not as dangerous as the pandemic H1N1 which occurred in 2009.
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According to public health officials, the latest registrations from doctors in the Vienna region show that the current rate of influenza infections has now reached epidemic status, with more than 11,400 affected by the illness.
Fortunately, the flu hasn't shown signs of causing any deaths, but as usual very young infants and the elderly are at greatest risk if symptoms worsen.
In Lower Austria, around 2,795 cases have been reported.
The most popular strain is A-H3N2, a variant virus which normally circulates among pigs. It's also found among some species of birds and other mammals. Around 36,000 people die in the USA from a similar virus each year.
According to the US Centre for Disease Control, seasons where the H3N2 strain dominates are usually more severe, but are not as dangerous as the pandemic H1N1 which occurred in 2009.
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