“No cause for swine flu panic”

Experts say that the situation after the death of a Serbian woman from swine flu should not be a cause for panic. Serbia is the 18th country to have registered a death resulting from swine flu. “No cause for swine flu panic” The chairman of the working group responsible for tracking the virus, Dr. Predrag Kon, told B92 that anyone who suspected that they had swine flu should contact their doctor. Asked whether there was cause for greater concern, Kon said that these kinds of events were to be expected and that there had been over 5,000 registered deaths around the world. “We know that the flu is present and we know that we have an uncertain situation in Europe, and, unfortunately, this death will certainly mean that the situation is no longer the same psychologically,” Kon said. “We now have 18 countries in Europe that have a registered case of death and we have now joined these countries,” Kon said. As far as the region is concerned, he said that, of Serbia’s neighbors, only Bulgaria had registered a case of death from the virus. Kon explained that the current situation was such that there was not an increase in the flu’s presence, but that that situation would change as winter nears. He said that as soon as a patient had symptoms of flu—high fever, coughing, etc.—they should visit the doctor. “If breathing becomes difficult then it is critical, that can be seen when more muscle use is needed to get air and a person sees that they cannot say something completely because they need to catch their breath,” Kon said. He advised people against ignoring symptoms. The doctor said that there had been no cases yet where people had contracted the virus by going to hospital for a check-up. However, he said that doctors should be seen in cases where people have a temperature of higher than 38ºC and have coughing and sneezing symptoms, especially if accompanied with breathing problems. “It is not a situation now where house visits will be organized, we plan to prepare spaces in the hospitals for check-ups of those who believe they have the flu,” Kon said. He explained that the seasonal flu shot was being given to those who had received the shots in previous years, people with chronic diseases and those older than 65, but added that the same recommendation would not be made later. “We now have a working group for a pandemic vaccination, but, for now, the vaccine is being given to those that have received it in the last several years,” Kon concluded.

“No cause for swine flu panic”

The chairman of the working group responsible for tracking the virus, Dr. Predrag Kon, told B92 that anyone who suspected that they had swine flu should contact their doctor.

Asked whether there was cause for greater concern, Kon said that these kinds of events were to be expected and that there had been over 5,000 registered deaths around the world.

“We know that the flu is present and we know that we have an uncertain situation in Europe, and, unfortunately, this death will certainly mean that the situation is no longer the same psychologically,” Kon said.

“We now have 18 countries in Europe that have a registered case of death and we have now joined these countries,” Kon said.

As far as the region is concerned, he said that, of Serbia’s neighbors, only Bulgaria had registered a case of death from the virus.

Kon explained that the current situation was such that there was not an increase in the flu’s presence, but that that situation would change as winter nears.

He said that as soon as a patient had symptoms of flu—high fever, coughing, etc.—they should visit the doctor.

“If breathing becomes difficult then it is critical, that can be seen when more muscle use is needed to get air and a person sees that they cannot say something completely because they need to catch their breath,” Kon said.

He advised people against ignoring symptoms.

The doctor said that there had been no cases yet where people had contracted the virus by going to hospital for a check-up. However, he said that doctors should be seen in cases where people have a temperature of higher than 38ºC and have coughing and sneezing symptoms, especially if accompanied with breathing problems.

“It is not a situation now where house visits will be organized, we plan to prepare spaces in the hospitals for check-ups of those who believe they have the flu,” Kon said.

He explained that the seasonal flu shot was being given to those who had received the shots in previous years, people with chronic diseases and those older than 65, but added that the same recommendation would not be made later.

“We now have a working group for a pandemic vaccination, but, for now, the vaccine is being given to those that have received it in the last several years,” Kon concluded.