Ecuador: Flu Virus Kills Nine Since November

eltiempo.com.ec, EFE- Machine Translated
Nine people have died in Ecuador so far this winter because of the flu, according to a report by the Ministry of Public Health, which records up to 289 cases of infection.

“Since the beginning of the case presentation on November 19, 2017 and until January 13, 2018 have been reported 289 cases of influenza, of which 9 people have died,” says a report released on the website of the Ministry.

By type of case, 258 correspond to the AH1N1 virus, 24 to AH3N3 and 7 to influenza type B, although the report does not give an account of which correspond the deaths.

The last death due to the flu was that of a girl, on Wednesday, due to the virus AH1N1 in the province of Azuay (south).

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The youngest was from the province of Cañar and according to the zonal health coordinator, Oswaldo Suárez, “it did not arrive on time,” newspaper El Comercio reported.

Still, according to the Ministry, 87% of cases are registered in the province of Pichincha, of which Quito is its capital.

Influenza is an endemic disease with high transmission capacity, in which 90% of those affected have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic and only 10% have severe symptoms that could require hospitalization.

In this winter season, adds the press release, there is an increase of cases in Ecuador, observing a circulation of the three types: AH1N1, AH3N2 and B.

The Ministry of Public Health activates its Epidemiological Surveillance System every year and runs a vaccination campaign against influenza for five priority population groups: pregnant women, children from 6 to 59 months of age, adults over 65 years, people with chronic diseases and health personnel direct patient care.

Vaccination, free and available in all health facilities in the country, will reach 3.9 million people this year, according to the ministry’s estimates. EFE / READ ARTICLE