No signs of influenza yet in medical centres of Aguilas

Up to now, clinics in town have treated isolated cases only

South medical centre.

Last year´s influenza epidemic, that affected Aguilas in such great numbers, has not been detected in town yet. According to the information supplied by the Town Councillor of the Heatlth department, Ana Miñarro,“up to now, only a few cases have been treated, those normal for this time of the year but in any case, for the moment, we can not say that there is an epidemic like last year”.

We must remember that during the first week of the month of January of last year the medical centres of Aguilas treated more than 400 cases and they also had to send a great number of patients to the Rafael Méndez Hospital of Lorca, being these numbers very different of this first week of 2006.In spite of this, the Post of Councillor recommends to all those who live in town, that they should visit their medical centre if they believe to have symptoms of this illness, preferably to visit their family doctor to avoid the collapse of the emergency room. We should also rest and drink fluids.

Post of Councillor advises to drink fluids and to visit our doctors as soon as we face symptoms

Not only this but also as an emergency measure, doctors advise us to receive the flu vaccine, especiallly children, chronic patients, diabetics, heart or lung patients, those above 60 and also heatth personnel that are all part of the high-risk group.

Although they also warn us that the vaccine does not protec t us all in the same way but still it is advisable because it reduces those complications that may appear.

Flu is an illness caused by a virus that is transmitted in a very fast way and through the air. For this reason, doctors have indicated that the intake of antibiotics is useless. Not only do they not cure the flu but also they do not benefit us in any way because flu is not an illness propagated by bacteria.

Specialists recommend, as an emergency measure, to receive the flu vaccine, especially those persons that belong to the high-risk group. Besides, they also recommend to follow a healthy diet, to avoid sudden temperature changes, also agglomerated places and, of course, to avoid contact with people infected with the virus.