Prevention
Claudio Salvatore (Fimmg Verona) «5-day incubation, infections increase with the holidays. Vaccines remain the best weapon»
Prevention Vaccinated people suffered less severe effects from the flu
Prevention Vaccinated people suffered less severe effects from the flu
The numbers are growing, but the peak has not yet been reached. The flu is taking hold around 16 thousand Veronese people in bed. This time of year, however, has both positive and negative sides in relation to infections. Elements that can help understand whether (and how much) the “K variant” can still have an impact. However, the data recorded at a regional level around Christmas is among the highest since surveillance has been active in Veneto.
In the week between 15 and 21 December, in fact, the cases detected were approximately 14 per thousand inhabitants. The next, however, almost 19 per thousand. Nothing to do, for example, with the data from last winter when in week 52 (Christmas) at a national level there were ten cases per thousand inhabitants. With a peak which, however, had been recorded (data from Il Sole 24 Ore) between the end of January and the beginning of February. More similar to what we are experiencing this year than what happened two years ago when the peak was reached in recent days and then dropped rapidly in the following four weeks.
Increase and peak
«We are seeing a great increase now and they are the result of the Christmas Eve dinners and Christmas given that the incubation period is around five days”, explains Claudio Salvatore, secretary of Fimmg Verona, the Federation of general practitioners. The other aspect is the closed schools as well as many offices: less contacts, less infections. But then when will the peak occur? «I imagine it will be after the first of the year with the parties and gatherings this evening. The effects will therefore be seen at Epiphany.”
From that moment on we can say that we are out of the most critical moment of this seasonal flu. The data is also linked to the number of sick certificates: «Every day», continues Salvatore, «I make about twentyto. This is a thermometer to understand the situation because they are almost all for flu. There are also forms of gastroenteritis but they are a small part compared to the classic symptoms of the flu.” Another aspect is that of vaccines: «Among all my patients who have had the vaccine, I have had very few cases of people who have shown symptoms of the disease. And if they had it in a couple of days they got away with it. It therefore always remains the best weapon to deal with the flu”, underlines the Fimmg secretary.
Age groups and masks
And the masks? They seemed like an old memory linked exclusively to Covid and instead they return: «Of course, as long as they are the Ffp2 ones and not the surgical ones. They are certainly useful in crowded places, but today it is really difficult to see people wearing them.” Yet they would be useful, as Salvatore points out, especially in very crowded places. Finally, there are no age groups more affected by a flu which has higher infections but as the secretary Fimmg says “does not seem to be that much more aggressive compared to previous years”.
