Headache for health authorities They fill hospitals with virus cocktails

At a time when A and B are partying, while others are growing the case of post-pulmonary virus to 71-year-olds in Thessaloniki came to cause concern. An explosive “cocktail” flu, viruses, respiratory and coronavirus infections afflicts the people of the country, fills the E.R. and Clinics of the NSY hospitals and emptys the shelves of the pharmacies from the antivirus drug Tamiflu, which has been in short supply for a week. CORVERSE This is an extremely dynamic epidemiological picture, expected to deteriorate with the reopening of schools from Wednesday (08.01.2025). In fact, it seems that we have yet to see anything, as the peak of the epidemic wave of seasonal influenza is expected, according to experts, in late January to early February. At the same time, the identification of a case of the virus that has caused a health crisis in China – the human post-pulmonary virus (HMPV) – and indeed in an elderly person who is being treated in a severe condition in a hospital ICU in Thessaloniki, causes further concern. Despite the reassuring statements made by scientists, the virus does not cease to add another “painhead” to health authorities, amid a major outbreak of respiratory infections. DISSEMINATION of the flu in sewage The flu is currently outnumbered in the community’s diaspora compared to all other viruses, but also coronavirus. At the same time, there are other rare phenomena, such as the simultaneous presence of influenza I and II in sewage. The revelation was made by the Professor of Analytical Chemistry of the University of Athens, Nikos Thomaidis, who stressed that influenza A made a sudden “jump” a week before Christmas, and then the presence of influenza B was detected in the sewage and intense. “It was impressive that within one week there was a large and sharp increase of 50% of influenza type A. But the most impressive thing was that we also detected influenza type B. which we continue to detect at relatively high levels for the season. Usually – let me remind you – we found her at the end of January in the sewage. It seems that beyond the flu type A which has a great spread in the community, we have a very large spread about the season and influenza type B. This is confirmed and clinically,” he said on a Kontra show on Wednesday night (08.01.2025). The problem of the widespread spread of flu in the community was also raised by the Deputy Minister of Health, Marios Themistocleous, speaking to ERT, who stressed that it is the virus that presents the greatest complications. “It can have more consequences and heavier complications than post-pulmonary virus (…) The influenza virus has the heavy complications in the groups, the susceptible individuals. We have the vaccine and the people who belong to these groups must be vaccinated,” he stressed. Post-pulmonary virus (HMPV): Reconciling scientists “The results of the epidemiological investigation so far do not advocate the correlation of the Thessaloniki case with the cases noted in China”, said EOMI in a communication issued on Wednesday (09.01.2025) on the occasion of the 71-year-old man, hospitalized in Papanikolaou, with severe symptoms of post-pulmonary virus (HMPV). Although the full laboratory check by the Centre is ongoing Reference, scientists stress that this is a common virus, known to scientists for over 20 years, when the case detected in no way is considered a “first case” in the country, as reported extensively. The same goes for, speaking to iatropedia.gr and Stelios Loukidis, president of the Greek Pneumonological Society (EPC) and director of the Pneumonological Clinic in “Attikon”, who reveals that a case of human metapulmonary virus had been hospitalized last November at the hospital. “We had isolated ourselves last November at our clinic in “Atticus”. But we didn’t pay much attention, it’s something in common. But it is not easy to find it in the community, because the cost of the examination is too high. You understand that there are neither self test nor rapid test for post-pulmonary virus. Diagnosis is done only in higher health care and this is done through the detection of infections,” he notes. Post-pulmonary virus is detected only through the FilmArray diagnostic method. This includes taking pharyngeal or nasal coating, analysed for the presence of 20 different viruses. However, “this analysis is carried out exclusively in higher health care due to the high cost”, noted Mr. Post-pulmonary virus: In the “microscope” the DNA of the virus The specific virus isolated in Thessaloniki is now being examined in special laboratories to clarify whether its DNA has undergone a mutation that makes it more aggressive. It should be demonstrated laboratoryly, if we are finally talking about the same “common” – almost 25 years ago – human HMPV metapulmonary virus or about a young man who has emerged after mutations and who may exhibit more dangerous characteristics, Professor Pneumonology Nikos Tzanakis told iatropedia.gr. “I think that a process should be carried out either through the European CDC or through the World Health Organization (WHO) to see if China’s executives or ours look like old or new ones and, above all, to combine whether these strains make more serious disease than we used to. This is the most important now to see, because it is a virus that is easily transmitted. Like flu and coronavirus and RSV are transmitted by droplets, by breath, by contaminated surfaces, by speech, by spitting, by coughing with all of them,” he specifically stressed. Characteristics and effects of the virus Post-pulmonary virus usually causes mild symptoms that refer to a common cold. However, it may cause bronchospasm and whistling in breathing, especially in young children, as does the respiratory symhytotic virus (RSV). There is no specific medication or vaccine for post-pulmonary virus. Treatment is conservative, i.e. only with treatment for symptoms that resolve with antipyretics, analgesics and decongestants. “The gravity for hospitalized patients lies mainly in the deregulation of accompanying diseases, such as cardiological problems or chronic obstructive lung disease, as well as the risk of infections, such as lungs,” stressed Mr. Loukidis. In its announcement the Hellenic Pneumonological Society invites vulnerable groups to be examined for flu or COVID-19 in case of symptoms and to proceed with vaccination. ‘Inoculation remains the most effective measure to prevent and protect against serious complications’, given characteristics. “The flu picnic we haven’t seen yet” Professor Loukidis notes that these days and because of the viruses there is an increase in the incidences in the E.S.E.R. Departments over 40% and an increase in imports with complications from respiratory infections and flu, which exceeds 50% compared to the previous month. “And we haven’t caught a ceiling yet. Just Wednesday schools opened, so I think it will be up on January 20 – 25, we will have more cases,” he says. However, the flu prevails and COVID-19 has a 50% reduction compared to last year, as Mr. Loukidis says, who is also President of the Commission who approves the antiviral treatments for coronavirus. “At the moment the flu prevails, just as it was in Australia in the other hemisphere in June. And we were warned by the Australians that we in the northern hemisphere should be careful that the flu will prevail this year. Today we have a 50% reduction in COVID-19 compared to last year. Last year we had given 2,000 antiviruses to patients and yesterday we gave 650” he says. The scientist predicts that the climax of infections and especially flu will occur in late January. “From 26 December, we are seeing a continuous increase in imports, so the picnic is expected around 20-25 January, and imports may increase further,” he said. Citizens are invited to take precautionary measures, especially if they belong to high risk groups, to limit their exposure to possible sources of infection, but also to be vaccinated even now for influenza and coronavirus. Until the outbreak, expected in early March, the alertness remains critical, the scientists end up. By Gianna Soaki / Source: iatropedia.gr